Vietnam is strongly committed to maritime safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded maritime connectivity in accordance with international law.
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| Overview of the 12th Ocean Dialogue. (Source: VNA) |
On March 15, the 12th Ocean Dialogue with the theme “Promoting Maritime Connectivity - Strengthening Global Engagement” co-organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation in Vietnam (KAS) took place in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event was attended by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, more than 130 delegates attending in person and more than 50 delegates registering to attend online, including 20 speakers from 12 countries and international organizations; nearly 30 representatives of foreign representative agencies in Vietnam from nearly 20 countries and territories; nearly 70 representatives from central ministries, branches and sectors and from 11 coastal localities nationwide.
The 12th Ocean Dialogue includes four discussion sessions on the following contents: Ensuring maritime corridors in the context of increasing strategic competition at sea in the world and the region; sustainable smart seaports - an irreversible trend in the blue economy; connecting maritime infrastructure in the digital age; and seeking initiatives to connect blue corridors in the maritime space.
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| Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu (middle), Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening speech at the Dialogue. (Source: VNA) |
In his opening remarks at the Dialogue, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu highly appreciated the topicality of the theme of this Dialogue, given the world is facing rapid changes, in which polarization and divisiveness are increasing. Any incident at sea can impact countries and global supply chains.
Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that the maritime network serves as a vital trade route, accounting for 80% of global trade. Maritime connectivity facilitates cultural exchange, scientific research and tourism, and plays an important role not only in disaster response and humanitarian aid but also for fiber optic cables, which are the backbone of global digital connectivity.
On the other hand, maritime connectivity today is also strongly influenced by digitalization, automation and green energy transition.
As a coastal country and also a sea-using country, Vietnam has built a strategy for sustainable development of the marine economy until 2030, with a vision to 2045, which emphasizes maritime connectivity. The prosperity of Vietnam's economy today depends on the safety and security of maritime corridors.
Vietnam is strongly committed to maritime safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded maritime connectivity in accordance with international law. Respect for the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the foundation for ensuring peace, stability, legal order at sea and the most appropriate method for resolving maritime disputes.
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| Delegates attending the 12th Ocean Dialogue take a souvenir photo. (Source: VNA) |
At the Dialogue, scholars discussed the content and outlined a comprehensive picture of “maritime connectivity”, not only from the perspective of security and geopolitics but also from specialized perspectives such as maritime transport, communications, marine ecological environment, renewable energy, etc.
Most agree that maritime connectivity is crucial to ensuring global supply chains and economic development, as well as strengthening the legal order at sea. In addition to favorable factors, there are increasingly emerging challenges that hinder maritime connectivity, such as climate change, illegal fishing, conflicts in some vital shipping routes, and the risk of cyber attacks.
Many experts believe that in the era of digital transformation, ensuring the security of submarine cables and marine infrastructure also plays a role in ensuring maritime connectivity in general and data information connectivity in particular.
Regarding seaport connectivity, many experts believe that smart ports have been and are a model for sustainable development, within the overall global green connectivity system. Currently, Southeast Asia is considered to have the most dynamic seaport system, with many regional and global shipping routes.
Experts also shared the factors that ensure the success of the smart port model such as technology and data. There are also opinions that in the digital transformation process, people are the most important factor, therefore, it is necessary to enhance skills and knowledge of port operations and port services.
At the event, many scholars in the region shared practical experiences from countries; discussed and proposed initiatives and ideas to ensure maritime security and connectivity, in the context of digital transformation, green energy transformation and the trend of reducing carbon emissions.
It is argued that countries need to strengthen cooperation to deal with security challenges in the maritime space, in which promoting ASEAN's central role will contribute to reducing negative impacts from geopolitical competition and promoting maritime connectivity in the region.
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| Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy, chaired the first working session of the Forum. (Source: VNA) |
In his closing remarks at the Dialogue, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, highly appreciated the discussions at the 12th Ocean Dialogue, which will help policy makers comprehensively understand the connectivity in the maritime space and hopefully open up opportunities to build trust and promote cooperation for a sustainable development future.
Ocean Dialogue is an initiative of the Diplomatic Academy to connect scientists to discuss marine science, combining policy discussions and legal frameworks towards sustainable ocean governance.
To date, the Academy has successfully organized 12 Dialogues and received many positive responses from the participants. Many quality publications have been published from the Dialogues' contents.
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