The Results of the 3rd Japan-China Experts Dialogue Platform Meeting on Marine Debris Cooperation and the 3rd Japan-China Marine Debris Workshop

The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), held online the 3rd Japan-China Experts Dialogue Platform Meeting on Marine Debris Cooperation and the 3rd Japan-China Marine Debris Workshop on December 22, 2021. MOEJ and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China, and experts from universities, local governments and research institutes, etc. of both countries participated in the meeting.

At the meeting, they discussed the harmonization of monitoring methodologies, sharing of data, research on fluxes discharged into the sea and ecological effects of marine litter, and comprehensive initiatives including appropriate waste management by the governments. Both countries agreed to cooperate in these fields.

1. Background

The meeting was held based on the agreement reached at the 6th Round Meeting of the Japan-China High-level Consultations on Maritime Affairs held in December 2016; they agreed to hold the Japan-China Experts Dialogue Platform Meeting on Marine Debris and the Japan-China Marine Debris Workshop with the aim of promoting bilateral cooperation. The 1st Japan-China Experts Dialogue Platform Meeting on Marine Debris was held in March 2017, and the 1st Japan-China Marine Debris Workshop was held in November 2017, and the second meeting and workshop were held in March 2020.

This time, the discussions were held based on the agreement of the 12th Round Meeting of the Japan-China High-level Consultations on Maritime Affairs in February 2021.

2. Date

2:00pm to 6:30pm, December 22, 2021

3. Venue

Tokyo and China (online)

4. Hosts

The Ministry of the Environment, Japan,

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China

5. Participants

Japan: MOEJ, local governments, experts in maritime affairs from universities and research institutes

China: The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, local governments, experts in maritime affairs from universities and research institutes

6. Major Achievements

Both countries exchanged opinions and agreed on the following:

(1) Both countries introduced the results of their own monitoring of marine litter and micro plastics, research on fluxes discharged into the sea and ecological effects of marine litter, and exchanged opinions.

(2) Both countries also exchanged opinions on their measures against marine litter, an outline of the domestic policies and the status of the implementation, and initiatives of local governments, and deepened mutual understanding.

(3) Both countries shared the effectiveness of opportunities for information sharing and opinion exchange like those in the latest meeting and workshop, and agreed to continue cooperating.

(4) The fourth meeting will be held late next year or around the second quarter of the year after next.

For Japanese