This week, the head of the Regional Unit for International Affairs (URAI) of the Regional Government of Valparaíso (GORE), Víctor Bahamonde, was part of the national delegation that traveled to the United Nations headquarters in New York.to represent Chile at the Preparatory Conference for the entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in waters beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), an event in which the region has a leading role, since during 2023 the city of Valparaíso was confirmed as the headquarters of the secretariat of the agreement.
The Chilean delegation was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, the Secretary General of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rodrigo Olsen, the Mayor of Valparaíso, Jorge Sharp, Senator Ricardo Lagos Weber, representatives of Rapa Nui and civil society.
It is worth noting that, in addition to participating in the Preparatory Conference, the event served as a forum for the head of the GORE’s URAI, along with various authorities, to hold bilateral meetings with the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Thailand, Barbados, Fiji, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Philippines, and representatives of Pacific islands to present in depth the proposal for Valparaíso as the headquarters of the BBNJ secretariat.
In this regard, the Head of the Regional Unit for International Affairs of the Regional Government of Valparaíso, Víctor Bahamonde, stated that Valparaíso “It is a heritage, coastal city of global relevance, with very good connectivity from Santiago to the world. Chile deserves a headquarters of this magnitude, with the participation of all the countries of the United Nations (…) We have more than four thousand kilometers of linear coastline; we have protected marine areas, such as Juan Fernández and Rapa Nui; we have research centers specialized in marine biology and a vigorous university system; We have a historical commitment to the sea and especially to the Pacific Ocean. Chile and specifically the Valparaíso Region deserve to be the headquarters of the BBNJ secretariat.”
It should be noted that within the most relevant points, the BBNJ seeks to generate new policies for the conservation and sustainability of marine biodiversity, promote the sustainable use of marine genetic resources, strengthen ocean governance and carry out an equitable distribution of benefits. to benefit developing countries.
