On December 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS with the participation of more than 100 delegates from the UN, foreign representative agencies in Vietnam, ministries, sectors, ambassadors, veteran officials involved in the process of building and implementing the Convention, and many domestic and foreign speakers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu once again emphasized the value and role of the Convention as the "Constitution of the Ocean", a comprehensive and complete international legal document, regulating all activities at sea, recognized by the international community. In particular, the Convention has also laid a solid foundation for determining maritime zones, thereby establishing sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime zones, as well as the basis for conducting activities at sea. At the same time, the Convention also stipulates a relatively comprehensive dispute settlement mechanism to peacefully resolve disputes arising between countries related to the interpretation and application of the Convention.

After 30 years, the Convention remains the most comprehensive and important legal framework, demonstrating its flexibility and adaptability to deal with urgent issues of the international community.

As a coastal state and a responsible member of the international community, upholding international law, Vietnam always affirms the importance of the Convention and fully and responsibly complies with and implements the provisions of the Convention.

Reviewing Vietnam's achievements in implementing and enforcing the Convention from 1994 to present, Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu noted that the Convention is the only international treaty specifically mentioned in the documents of the Party Congress of Vietnam, and is the basis for Vietnam to build and promulgate the Vietnam Law of the Sea in 2012, along with many documents, strategies, and policies on sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy, and is also applied to determine maritime zones and maritime boundaries.

Vietnam advocates persistently resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, and has in fact applied the Convention in resolving maritime delimitation issues with neighboring countries.

In addition, Vietnam has participated more and more proactively, actively and deeply in the mechanisms established under the Convention, demonstrating Vietnam's sense of responsibility and respect for the law, which has been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community. Vietnam has also nominated experienced and highly qualified experts to participate in the agencies established within the framework of UNCLOS, including Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Viet Ha being elected to the Legal and Technical Commission - the international authority on the ocean floor, and nominated candidates for the position of judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the term 2026-2035.

Within the framework of the discussion sessions, speakers and delegates looked back at the formation and entry into force of UNCLOS; the values ​​of the Convention over the past 30 years; the practical role of the Convention at present, in the context of many non-traditional challenges to the sea and ocean... Many sea and ocean issues of interest such as resolving maritime disputes, law enforcement at sea, protection of the marine environment... were presented, exchanged and discussed in depth and extensively, attracting the participation of delegates.

BNG

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-luon-tuan-thu-thuc-thi-day-du-co-trach-nhiem-cac-quy-dnh-cua-unclos-102241210144241909.htm