Ceremony marking 30th anniversary of entry into force of UNCLOS: MOFA
WVR/VNA - On December 10, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) entering into force. Widely regarded as a 'Constitution for the Oceans,' the UNCLOS establishes a comprehensive international legal framework that governs the rights and obligations of all nations—regardless of their geographical or maritime status—in .sustainable utilization and management of marine resources.
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| Ceremony marking 30th anniversary of entry into force of UNCLOS: On December 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the UNCLOS. (Photo: Anh Son) |
The event aimed to reflect on the value and significance of the convention and review Vietnam's journey in implementing its provisions over the past three decades.
'Constitution for the Oceans,'
Speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that three decades ago, on November 16, 1994, UNCLOS, the legal framework governing activities on oceans and seas, which cover over 70 per cent of Earth's surface, officially came into effect.
UNCLOS, hailed as 'Constitution for the Oceans,' establishes a comprehensive international legal framework governing the rights and obligations of all nations, regardless of their geographical or maritime status, in using and managing marine resources sustainably.
The Convention has ensured equitable and sustainable exploitation of these resources, while mandating responsibilities to protect the marine environment, preserve biodiversity and balance coastal state sovereignty with the need for scientific cooperation and knowledge expansion, he noted.
UNCLOS provides the foundation for defining maritime zones and delineating sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the seas. It also includes mechanisms for dispute resolution to address conflicts arising from the interpretation and application of its provisions.
Decisions made by judicial bodies established under UNCLOS have further clarified its provisions, ensuring its integrity and effective implementation, the Assistant Minister said.
The diplomat said that while the 21st century has brought new challenges, including climate change's adverse effects on oceans, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and technological advancements in maritime activities, UNCLOS remains a robust legal framework, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in addressing these pressing issues.
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| Overview of the event. (Photo: Anh Son) |
Institutions established under the convention, such as the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Seabed Authority, have played proactive roles in addressing emerging challenges to marine governance.
Today, with 170 member states, UNCLOS stands as one of the most significant legal achievements of the international community in the 20th century.
As a coastal nation with over 3,260km of coastline and numerous islands, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Vietnam recognises the critical importance of the sea for the country's peace, security and development.
Vietnam respects and fully and responsibly implements the provisions of UNCLOS.
"Full and responsible respect for and implementation of UNCLOS provisions aligns fully with Vietnam's longstanding principles and policies," the Assistant Minister said.
The Vietnamese National Assembly’s resolution ratifying UNCLOS in 1994 underscored the nation’s commitment to building a fair maritime order and promoting development and cooperation in conjunction with the international community.
Over the years, Vietnam has systematically improved its legal framework for maritime affairs, including the 2012 Law of the Sea, and developed strategies for sustainable marine economic development. Vietnam has also defined its maritime zones and boundaries and managed and exploited its marine resources based on UNCLOS provisions.
Resolution 36 of the 12th Party Central Committee in 2018, concerning Vietnam's Strategy for Sustainable Marine Economic Development to 2030, with a vision towards 2045, outlined the goal of "Making Vietnam a strong maritime nation."
It set tasks to "enhance international cooperation" in maritime areas and to "actively resolve disputes and disagreements in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) peacefully, based on international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS."
The Political Report of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam reiterated the commitment to resolving maritime issues based on international law, particularly UNCLOS. The Convention is the only international treaty explicitly named and mentioned three times in the report, underscoring the convention’s importance to Vietnam's security and development.
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| Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu. (Photo: Anh Son) |
The Assistant Minister noted that Vietnam has made significant strides in maritime dispute resolution with its neighbouring countries, including resolving maritime delimitation in the Gulf of Thailand with Thailand in 1997 (the first ASEAN maritime delimitation agreement post-UNCLOS enforcement), reaching maritime delimitation agreements with China for the Gulf of Tonkin in 2000 and the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone with Indonesia in 2003 and 2022.
Vietnam actively participates in international and regional forums related to oceans and the law of the sea, contributing initiatives that are widely recognised by the global community. It has also sent highly qualified experts to serve in UNCLOS-established institutions.
At the UN, Vietnam co-founded the Group of Friends of UNCLOS with 11 other countries, a coalition that now includes over 100 members advocating for the Convention's effective implementation, the Assistant Minister said.
Regarding dispute resolution mechanisms under UNCLOS, Dr Ximena Hinrichs, Registrar of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and Neil Nucup, Representative of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Vietnm, introduced these mechanisms under the Convention. They highlighted the roles of institutions such as ITLOS and PCA in resolving international disputes and in interpreting and applying the convention.
(Source: WVR/VNA)
