Dear Co-Chairs:

1. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, we would like to raise a few points as follows:

a) The Clearing-House Mechanism must serve as a platform to facilitate international cooperation including the matching of capacity development needs with the support available and providers for the transfer of marine technology. The functionality of the Mechanism is particularly important for developing countries that will rely on the mechanism to access information and technical resources. The Clearing House Mechanism under the Agreement will also play a critical role in promoting transparency in its implementation. The Mechanism should be accessible, user-friendly, interactive, multilingual and interoperable. We recall its role in facilitating coherent information exchange between and among BBNJ subsidiary bodies and Parties, as well as in relation to other relevant stakeholders, international frameworks and bodies in accordance with article 51 while providing an effective platform to match needs for capacity building and transfer of technology of Parties.

b) The Group also highlights the critical role the Mechanism will play in the implementation of all provisions related to marine genetic resources, digital sequence information and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. In this regard, we are open to explore provisional arrangements for its early operationalization, through a phased development. We firmly believe that the discussions on design of the Mechanism should focus on MGR related matters, including the process for generating the BBNJ standardised batch identifiers, as well as on the creation of capacity-building for developing countries Parties to the Agreement.

c) Pursuant to article 51(5), in the management of the Clearing-House mechanism, the special requirements of developing States Parties, as well as the special circumstances of SIDS, are to be fully recognized. While we note the consideration of user-friendliness of the platform and accessibility via internet, as well as financial support mechanism and capacity-building workshops in the respective draft documents presented by the Secretariat, we opine that the needs of developing countries need to be addressed in a broader scope. Article 52 is also responsible for facilitating international cooperation and collaboration, including scientific and technical cooperation and collaboration. This should encompass appropriate ways and means to promote such cooperation with developing countries and to address the obstacles that these countries encounter in this area.

d) The mandate of the Mechanism in facilitating international cooperation and collaboration should be seen in tandem with the overarching requirement in article 51 which stipulates the full recognition of the requirements of developing countries, as well as the special circumstances of small island developing States Parties. Given that in accordance with 51(4) of the Agreement, the Secretariat manages the Mechanism, further consideration may be made as to duties and mandates of the Secretariat specifically with regard to the role of Mechanism including in facilitating international cooperation and addressing related challenges of developing countries.

e) Facilitating the access of developing countries to information and data, promoting capacity-building support, transfer of technology and enhancing funding opportunities for developing countries as well as appropriate training and technical assistance and scientific scholarships for such countries are also among the areas that the Mechanism could address and facilitate. Lastly, it is of practical utility to also explore cohesion and coordination in structuring communication among the subsidiary bodies; and also establishing clear linkages with the Clearing-House Mechanism.

f) Relevant to this topic we would like to refer to the mandate of the said Mechanism in facilitating international cooperation and collaboration, including scientific and technical cooperation and collaboration. These mandates could be seen in tandem and complementarily. Given that in accordance with 51(4) of the Agreement, the secretariat shall manage the Mechanism, further consideration may be made as to duties and mandates of the secretariat specifically with regard to the Mechanism including in facilitating international cooperation and addressing related challenges.

g) As for the draft terms of reference for the informal working group on technical aspects of the CHM, the qualification elements for States' expert referred to therein could be discussed further.

2. Our Group will reflect its further observations and views on the topic related to the Clearing-House Mechanism at a later stage. We are looking forward to a fruitful discussion on this matter.

I thank you.