Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung addresses the ceremony in Hanoi on November 14 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry ofForeign Affairs held a ceremony in Hanoi on November 14 to mark the 25thanniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Vietnam’s membership of the treaty.
The event was attended by nearly 200 delegatesfrom ministries and sectors, foreign ambassadors, representatives of diplomaticcorps in Hanoi, along with more than 100 others from 22 members of the ASEANRegional Forum (ARF) who took part in the ARF workshop on implementing theUNCLOS and other international instruments to address emerging maritime issuesin Hanoi on November 13-14.
The UNCLOS was adopted on December 10, 1982 andtook effect on November 16, 1994. Vietnam was one of the first 107 countries tosign and ratify this convention.
In its ratification resolution, the VietnameseNational Assembly affirmed that by ratifying the treaty, the country shows thedetermination to join hands with the international community to build anequitable order and encourage the development and cooperation at sea.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Foreign MinisterNguyen Quoc Dung underlined that seas and oceans make up over 70 percent of theearth’s surface. They not only connect continents but are also sources oflivelihoods and the space for activities and interaction among more than 200countries around the globe, he said.
Dung noted the building of a legal document toresolve all issues relating to the law of the sea and to establish a legal orderfor the seas and oceans are vital and also the aspiration of all nations asshown in the preamble of the UNCLOS.
With 320 articles and nine annexes that coverall activities on the seas and oceans, the UNCLOS is considered a constitutionfor the seas and oceans and serves as the legal foundation for all sea-relatedactivities at the national, regional and global levels, Dung said, adding that168 countries have joined this convention so far, and almost all regulations inthis treaty have become international practices.
According to the official, the UNCLOS has becomea solid international legal basis to define rights, obligations andresponsibilities of coastal countries, and to deal with issues related to theseas and oceans.
Dung said over the last 25 years, Vietnam hasalways respected the guidelines and objectives of the UNCLOS while makingefforts to enforce the convention in the East Sea.
The country has aligned its legal system on themanagement and use of the sea, especially the 2012 Law of the Sea, with theUNCLOS. Besides, it has persistently handled sea-related differences bypeaceful means and in line with international law, including the UNCLOS.
Under this policy, Vietnam has held negotiationson and signed treaties on maritime delimitation with neighbouring countrieslike Thailand, China and Indonesia. It is also actively promoting the talks onthe delimitation of the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin withChina, the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone with Indonesia, and themaritime delimitation with other neighbours, he said.
Dung added the country has stepped up maritimecooperation in a diverse and increasingly substantive manner so as to optimisethe sea’s potential and deal with emerging challenges and create a peaceful andstable environment in the East Sea.
The Deputy Minister pointed out many recent complexdevelopments in the East Sea that seriously violated the rights of Vietnam andother regional countries which were stipulated in the UNCLOS.
Vietnam has persistently respected and fullycomplied with the UNCLOS, respected the diplomatic and legal processes, and notwrongly interpreted or intentionally played down the significance and role of theconvention, he stressed, adding that when there are any differences relating tothe interpretation and application of the UNCLOS, the concerned parties need tosolve those issues via negotiations or other peaceful measures in line withinternational law, including the UNCLOS.
When differences haven’t been handled, the relevantparties need to respect and fully implement the 2002 Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the East Sea (DOC); exercise self-restraint; not take unilateralactions that may complicate the situation, elevate tensions or jeopardiseregional peace and stability; and take part in negotiations in a constructivelymanner so as to soon finalise an efficient and practical Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) that is in conformity with the UNCLOS, Dung emphasised./.
VNA
