On May 27, 2026, on the occasion of the opening of the 2026 training class of the China-ISA Joint Training and Research Centre (JTRC), Li Xiangyang, Deputy Administrator of the China Ocean Affairs Administration, and Zhang Chunlei, Director of the National Deep Sea Center, held in-depth talks with International Seabed Authority Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho in Sanya, Hainan, on a range of deep-sea topics. Cai Yongsheng, head of the ISA’s Office of Contract Management and Capacity Development, ISA Chief Policy Officer Yin Wenqiang, ISA marine scientific research coordinator Noemie Wouters, and National Deep Sea Center Deputy Director Xu Xuewei also took part.
The Ocean Affairs Administration side said the China-ISA joint centre has delivered notable results, and that China will continue to draw on its strengths in deep-sea scientific surveys to provide technical support in areas such as regional environmental management plans (REMPs) and deep-sea big data management, helping developing countries build their deep-sea governance capacity. With the BBNJ Agreement now formally in force, REMPs have become a key tool for putting the principle of the common heritage of mankind into practice and for reconciling resource development with ecological protection, and the adoption of standardized REMP procedures marks the entry of deep-sea environmental governance into an implementation stage. China has participated throughout the various REMP workshops, provided supporting scientific data, and holds that the legitimate interests of all parties should be balanced on the basis of science; it will continue to take part in follow-up REMP work.
The National Deep Sea Center side said that through its two training tracks, the China-ISA joint centre training classes and the training for international seabed exploration contract contractors, its combined onshore, at-sea and online training model has trained deep-sea professionals for nearly 50 countries, with trainee satisfaction consistently above 90 percent. The centre is also advancing international joint research in areas such as deep-sea biological information and deep-sea big data processing, working with the Egypt-ISA joint centre, promoting the implementation of a large-scale science programme under the UN Ocean Decade, and helping developing countries raise their participation in deep-sea affairs. The centre is also deeply engaged in discussions on deep-sea technical standards, sharing its practical experience in exploration and environmental management.
Secretary-General Carvalho thanked China for its long-standing support. She said the ISA’s core goal of balancing deep-sea development with ecological protection is highly consistent with China’s approach to governance, providing a solid foundation for deeper cooperation. She spoke highly of the China-ISA joint centre, calling it a benchmark platform for global deep-sea governance capacity building, and acknowledged China’s sustained investment of funding, personnel and institutional support. On training, she said the ISA will upgrade its training system and shift capacity development from training individuals toward institutionalized, long-term national capacity building. On joint research, she suggested the two sides focus on core priorities and strengthen links with global research networks to raise the influence and appeal of international research projects.
Looking ahead, the National Deep Sea Center said it will further broaden and deepen its cooperation with the ISA, drawing on its equipment and research strengths to participate in core work including discussions on environmental guidelines, the drafting of the exploitation regulations and the construction of deep-sea databases. It also expressed willingness to use its established training system to provide training in deep-sea technology and equipment application to contractors worldwide, building trust among countries and working toward a mutually beneficial and sustainable pattern of international deep-sea cooperation.
