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South China Business Journal

LEADERSHIP While many of us have been following the
U.S.presidential election,Iwould like to highlight a topic
of vital interest to everyone – protecting our oceansagainst the South China’s robust traditional manufacturing sector affects
tremendous pressure from human activity, including unsustain- the surrounding water and ultimately residents’ quality of life.
able and illegal fishing, marine pollution, and the effects of cli- Clean, safe water will become even more importantas the region
mate change.This issue is of particular importance to those of us competes to attract skilled talent and business opportunities
living in the Pearl River Deltawho depend on its waterways and in tourism, high-tech and the service sector. But, even beyond
the ocean for our livelihood. At the third Our Ocean Conference economics, as Secretary Kerry said, “our ocean is absolutely
held recently in Washington, D.C., countries and organizations essential for life itself – not just the food, but the oxygen and
from around the world affirmed theircommitment to protecting weather cycles of the planet all depend on the ocean.” The
our shared treasure, our oceans. commitments made by our two countries’ leaders at the Our
Ocean Conference should encourage us all to do more locally
Representatives from over 110 countries, including State Oce- to protect our oceans – something to consider when companies
anic Administration Administrator Wang Hong, joined Secre- plan future actions. Let’s keep the momentum going!
tary of State John Kerry at the September conference, and com-
mitted to over 136 new initiatives on marine conservation and Charles Bennett
protection valued at more than $5.24 billion.The conference Consul General
resulted in commitments toprotectalmost four million square Consulate General of the United States of America
kilometers (over 1.5 million square miles) of ocean. President Guangzhou, China
Obama announced the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea
Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii and the
establishment of a new marine monument off the coast of New
England. China reaffirmed commitments related to restoration,
recovery and replanting of marine areas as part of the country’s
13th Five Year Plan. Locally, U.S. Consulate Guangzhou helped
raise environmental awareness by working alongside other
volunteers to remove trash from the coastal areas surrounding
Guangdong’s Guanlong Islandas part of International Coastal
Clean-Up Day.

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