Princess Lalla Hasnaa Represents King Mohammed VI at UN Ocean Conference
Doha – Princess Lalla Hasnaa is participating in the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC-3) in Nice as the representative of King Mohammed VI.
The conference opened today and will continue until Friday, bringing together more than 50 heads of state and government, along with over 1,500 delegates from nearly 200 countries.
The opening session featured speeches by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.
This five-day event is co-organized by France and Costa Rica under the theme 'Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.'
On Sunday evening, prior to the conference opening, Princess Lalla Hasnaa attended a dinner hosted by President Macron and his wife Brigitte in honor of the participating heads of state and government. She was welcomed by the French presidential couple upon her arrival at the dinner venue.
The UNOC-3 follows previous conferences held in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). It aims to advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14, focused on the sustainable use of ocean resources.
The conference will examine various aspects related to oceans, from sustainable fishing to marine pollution, as well as interactions between climate and biodiversity.
Unlike COP meetings or international treaty negotiations, no binding agreements will be signed in Nice. Instead, states will present voluntary commitments and a joint declaration.
According to Costa Rica's UN ambassador Maritza Chan, the conference is expected to generate $100 billion in new public and private funding for sustainable ocean development.
The gathering was preceded by three parallel events: a scientific summit that gathered over 2,000 scientists from June 3-6, the official presentation of a global coalition of coastal cities and regions on June 7, and a blue economy summit in Monaco on June 7-8.
Participants are discussing a range of topics, including the high seas treaty, plastic pollution, overfishing, seabed mining, and decarbonization of maritime transport.
Major political leaders attending include Brazil's President Lula da Silva, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Han Zheng, the second-highest official in the Chinese regime.
France is expected to announce the creation of new marine protected areas, particularly in Polynesia, and the strengthening of existing ones, such as those protecting coral reefs.
Additionally, an oceanographic mission called Neptune, involving ten countries with oceanographic and space agencies, will be officially launched and is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2040. Tags: King Mohammed VIPrincess Lalla Hasnaaunited nations conference
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
5 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Macron applauds King Mohammed VI's leadership in Africa's blue economy at ocean summit
French President Emmanuel Macron praised King Mohammed VI's «strong» and «clear» commitment to developing a blue economy in Africa during the opening of the «Africa for the Ocean» summit in Nice, which he co-chaired with Princess Lalla Hasnaa, representing the Moroccan monarch. Macron thanked Morocco for organizing the summit and for involving France in «this initiative focused on issues that are vital for the African continent — and for all of us». He highlighted Morocco's leadership in Africa, driven by the King, noting that the Kingdom's «ongoing efforts in ocean governance, the fight against plastic pollution, and the promotion of regional cooperation serve as a benchmark on the continent». The French president also praised the content of the message sent by King Mohammed VI to the summit's participants, which was read by Princess Lalla Hasnaa. The King's words, Macron said, were «both strong and clear regarding the strategy to pursue, a vision we fully share». He emphasized «His Majesty's Atlantic Initiative, aimed at giving landlocked African countries access to the ocean», as a reflection of that vision. Macron also recalled that 20 years ago, King Mohammed VI launched the Tangier Med project, «which is now the largest port in the Mediterranean». He added that the construction of the Dakhla port, set to begin next year, «will mark a new chapter for the Atlantic Ocean and the ambition to connect the entire African continent to its potential and openness». The «Africa for the Ocean» summit, organized as part of the lead-up to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in 2025, provided a platform to discuss how Africa can harness its ocean resources for development while ensuring sustainable governance of marine spaces. Key topics included mobilizing funding for modern and resilient infrastructure, strengthening ocean governance and fisheries management, and improving connectivity between maritime and landlocked countries.
Morocco World
20 hours ago
- Morocco World
Princess Lalla Hasnaa Participates in Mediterranean Dialogue on Connectivity at UN Summit
Rabat – Princess Lalla Hasnaa, representing King Mohammed VI, took part on Monday in the 'Summit for a Connected Mediterranean,' held at the historic Palais des Rois Sardes in Nice. The event, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together heads of state and government from Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the Gulf, along with representatives of international and regional organizations. Held on the margins of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the summit placed the Mediterranean at the heart of urgent conversations about the future of global connectivity. King Mohammed VI, in a message delivered by Princess Lalla Hasnaa at the summit, called on African nations to take greater ownership of their maritime spaces, describing the seas as vital to the continent's future. He welcomed the participation of African leaders at what he described as an 'unprecedented summit' focused on the continent's 30,000 kilometers of shared coastline. The King also lauded French President Emmanuel Macron for his dedication to ocean protection and urged African countries to move from recognizing the importance of marine resources to taking concrete steps to protect and develop them. He noted that while Africa's seas offer immense potential, they remain largely underexploited and poorly safeguarded. Far from a routine gathering, it marked a deliberate push to reimagine how countries around the sea relate to one another, by land, by sea, and through digital networks. The summit unfolded with a shared sense of purpose. Delegations laid out plans to improve transport infrastructure, expand digital links, and develop energy corridors. These announcements reflect a growing awareness that the region's future depends on cooperation rather than competition. Morocco's presence in this forum signaled its active role in shaping that future. Through the voice of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the country expressed its commitment to building stronger bridges across the Mediterranean, geographically and politically. In a world where divisions deepen and environmental threats grow, the summit in Nice stood as a reminder that connectivity is not only about cables and roads, but about trust, vision, and a willingness to act together. Tags: Morocco france tiesPrincess Lalla HasnaaUN Ocean ConferenceUNOC-3
Morocco World
21 hours ago
- Morocco World
Macron Applauds Morocco's Leadership in Ocean Conservation at UN Conference
Rabat – At the opening of the 'Africa for the Ocean' summit in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed admiration for what he described as King Mohammed VI's strong and forward-looking commitment to building a blue economy for Africa. Speaking alongside Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who represented the Moroccan monarch at the event, Macron described the King's message as 'clear' and 'decisive' in guiding the continent toward sustainable ocean development. King Mohammed VI addressed the summit with a message urging African nations to take greater ownership of their seas, which he described as central to the continent's future. Delivered by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the message welcomed the presence of African leaders at what the monarch called an 'unprecedented summit' focused on Africa's 30,000 kilometers of shared coastline. In his message, the King commended President Emmanuel Macron for his commitment to ocean protection and emphasized the pressing need for Africa to move beyond acknowledging the value of its marine resources to actively safeguarding and developing them. He warned that while the continent's seas hold immense promise, they remain largely untapped and insufficiently protected. At the core of the King's message was a conviction that Africa's oceans, if managed responsibly, could serve as a foundation for long-term prosperity across the continent. The summit, organized ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, brought together African leaders, policymakers, and international partners to reflect on the continent's ocean potential and the responsibilities that come with it. For Macron, Morocco's place at the helm felt natural. 'Morocco stands out on the continent,' he said, noting the country's efforts in ocean governance, its stance against plastic pollution, and its push for regional cooperation. 'These are not just policies, but signs of a clear vision,' he added. Macron reserved special words for the Atlantic Initiative, a project launched by King Mohammed VI to give landlocked African countries access to the Atlantic. 'This idea reflects a continental vision, one that doesn't leave any nation behind,' he said. He also linked this vision to past milestones, including the launch of Tanger Med two decades ago. 'What began as a bold idea is now the most important port in the Mediterranean,' he said. Looking ahead, Macron pointed to the upcoming opening of the Dakhla port as the next chapter in Morocco's ocean strategy. 'It marks more than infrastructure,' he said. 'It marks a determination to connect all of Africa to global maritime routes.' The French leader also reflected on the symbolism of the summit itself. 'It is not by accident that Morocco and France are co-hosting this event,' he said. 'We share a shoreline, a long-standing relationship, and a shared desire to face essential questions together.' Delegates explored ways to unlock investment for ocean-related infrastructure, ensure sustainable management of fish stocks, and build better ties between landlocked and coastal countries. Tags: Emmanuel MacronFrance Morocco tiesKing Mohammed VIUNOC-3
