Vietnam's substantial contributions in new developments and effective implementation of the UNCLOS
WVR - The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly held its annual plenary discussion on oceans and the law of the sea to review the cooperation process and new advancements over the past year in ocean governance and the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) globally.
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| Vietnam's substantial contributions in new developments and effective implementation of the UNCLOS: The annual plenary discussion on oceans and the law of the sea takes place at the United Nations headquarters. (Photo: WVR) |
On December 8-9 (local time), at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA, the session attracted the participation of numerous representatives from UN member states, convention-established bodies, and many international and regional organizations.
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| Ambassador Do Hung Viet speaks at the plenary discussion on oceans and the law of the sea |
Speaking at the session, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, welcomed the positive developments in global ocean governance over the past year. Notably, the success of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3, June 2025) in advancing SDG 14, the BBNJ Agreement set to take effect in January 2026, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issuing an advisory opinion (July 2025) clarifying national obligations in marine environmental protection and addressing climate change impacts on oceans.
On this occasion, the Ambassador affirmed Vietnam's recognition and appreciation of the work results of mechanisms established by UNCLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea - ITLOS, International Seabed Authority - ISA, and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf - CLCS) as well as many agencies and discussion processes within the United Nations framework in 2025.
The tireless efforts of these agencies and processes, along with the joint contributions of all member states, have led to substantial progress in promoting ocean governance at all levels.
Reflecting on the past year, Vietnam proudly made substantial contributions to the ocean agenda and the global implementation of UNCLOS. Vietnam made significant contributions at UNOC3 by registering numerous voluntary commitments on marine management, fisheries governance, and reducing marine pollution. Vietnam was among the first countries to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement, helping it meet the condition of 60 ratifications for its entry into force.
Since June 2025, as Chair of the 35th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS (SPLOS 35), Vietnam has been collaborating with other countries to discuss, approve decisions, and find solutions to enhance the effectiveness of UNCLOS-established bodies.
Notably, Vietnam's first nomination of a candidate for the ITLOS judge position for the 2026-2035 term is a clear testament to its strong commitment and desire to contribute directly to the comprehensive interpretation and application of UNCLOS.
Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) situation, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability in this maritime space for the region's common development and prosperity, Ambassador Đỗ Hùng Việt emphasized Vietnam's principled stance supporting the peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.
The Ambassador, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, urged relevant parties to fully and sincerely fulfill their obligations under UNCLOS, respect and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), exercise restraint, peacefully resolve disputes, respect diplomatic and legal processes, and reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to fully implementing the DOC and actively working with other countries to build an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS.
Within the framework of the discussion, the 80th United Nations General Assembly adopted four resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, sustainable fisheries, the BBNJ Agreement, and convening the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 4), marking the first time Vietnam co-sponsored all four resolutions, affirming its active role and increasingly deep and broad participation in multilateral processes on oceans and the law of the sea.
