22/07/2025
Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang visited the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on Monday and informed Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez of the Chinese government’s decision to establish a Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the IMO. Ambassador Zheng also presented the instrument of full powers appointing him as China’s Permanent Representative to the IMO.
Ambassador Zheng noted the great importance the Chinese government attaches to the IMO’s key role, as a UN specialized agency, in enhancing maritime safety and security and in preventing marine and atmospheric pollution from ships. As a Category A member of the IMO Council, China has firmly upheld and practiced true multilateralism and remains actively committed to contributing to the IMO’s mission statement of “safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans”. The establishment of China’s Permanent Mission will help further deepen China’s exchanges and cooperation with the IMO Secretariat and Member States, making new contributions to advancing international maritime cooperation and to building a global maritime community with a shared future.
Secretary-General Dominguez expressed his pleasure at receiving the instrument of full powers from Ambassador Zheng as the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the IMO. The IMO Secretariat appreciates China’s participation in the work of the Organisation and looks forward to China’s continued support.
The IMO is a UN specialized agency responsible for maritime safety and security, prevention of marine pollution from ships and related legal matters. Headquartered in London, the IMO currently has 176 Member States and three Associate Members. China resumed its lawful seat as an IMO Member State in 1973 and has continuously served as a Category A member of the IMO Council since 1989. The Chinese government recently decided to establish the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the IMO, with Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang concurrently serving as Permanent Representative to the Organisation.
