NICE, France, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The third United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, unveiled a new action plan at its conclusion on Friday in Nice, reaffirming global political commitment to ocean protection.

The Nice Ocean Action Plan, named after the southeastern French city Nice, includes a political declaration titled "Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action," and a series of voluntary commitments from states and relevant stakeholders.

The declaration outlines concrete goals to expand marine protected areas, decarbonize maritime transport, combat marine pollution, and mobilize financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations.

A central topic at the conference was the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), adopted in 2023. Nineteen additional countries ratified the agreement during the event, bringing it closer to entering into force, which requires 10 more ratifications.

Held from June 9 to 13, the conference brought together heads of state, policymakers, academics, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations and the private sector to advance dialogue on ocean governance and sustainable development. The next conference will be co-hosted by South Korea and Chile in 2028. ■