A working session of the UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP/VNA)Speaking on behalf of 12 founding members of thegroup at a meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the UNCLOSorganised by the UN General Assembly on April 29, Giang emphasised the significanceof the convention as a legal framework that covers all activities at seas and oceans.
He called on the international community to stayfirm in maintaining legal regulations as established in the convention, sayingall countries should fulfill their legal obligations in accordance with theconvention.
Acts by countries, including maritime claims and activities and cooperation, both regionally and internationally, must abide bythe UNCLOS, Giang stressed.
The ambassador urged countries to ensure the freedomof navigation, safety and security for legal maritime activities, and preserveand use oceans and maritime resources sustainably.
More importantly, it is necessary to addressdisputes through peaceful measures, fully respect legal mechanisms andprocesses stipulated in the UNCLOS, and support professional organisations establishedunder the convention, he said.
Delegates at the meeting highlighted greatcontributions of the UNCLOS and agencies within its convention, to maintaining ocean order, and the preservation and sustainable use of maritime resources.
The group, an initiative by Vietnam and Germany, waslaunched at a New York event on June 30, 2021. It is an open and informalorganisation gathering countries sharing same concerns over a certain issue.There are about 90 UN Groups of Friends in various areas at the UN.
Members of the Group of Friends on the UNCLOS comefrom all over the world, comprising five permanent UN Security Council memberstates and many nations in Asia Pacific, such as Indonesia, the Philippines,Brunei, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Bangladesh, Australia,and New Zealand./.
VNA
