Mr. Chairman,

- I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 7 regarding the consideration of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology which are two significant aspects for an effective regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions.

- The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled "The future we want", the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Goal 14 as well as Addis Ababa Action Agenda concurrently stress on the increasing of scientific knowledge, the development of research capacity and transfer of marine technology in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries.

Mr. Chairman,

- The Group of 77 therefore sees necessity to define the objective as well as general obligations relating to capacity building, such as needs and interests of developing States to establish or develop their own capacities to benefit from the marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions, as well as to assume, at the best possible conditions, theirs responsibility and duties deriving from the new instrument.

- Furthermore, the legal basis for the regime on transfer of marine technology regarding BBNJ can be drawn on Part XIV of UNCLOS regarding the development and transfer of marine technology. To this end, and as recognized in the relevant United Nations documents relating to the Sustainable Developments, it is important to explore and develop a regime for capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on Transfer of Marine Technology (CGTMT) which constitute guidance to implement Part XIV. Some lessons learned should be drawn from the current applicable regime for prospecting, exploration and exploitation of the resources in the Area, especially in terms of transfer of technology for the purposes of Part XI of UNCLOS.

- The Group of 77 and China believes that the transfer of technology is an essential tool for capacity building in the context of marine science. However, it is worth noting that there remains the gap in implementation in the provisions on transfer of technology.

Mr. Chairman,

- Finally, the Group of 77 and China is also of the view that all means of international cooperation in order to facilitate capacity-building and transfer of marine technology should be encouraged. An institutional mechanism acting like a clearing house mechanism is therefore necessary to coordinate on the transfer of marine technology.

- I thank you, Mr. Chairman.