Groups of countries and nearly 40 countries spoke about current challenges such as marine pollution, negative consequences of climate change, rising sea levels and difficulties for sustainable fisheries. In that context, countries promoted the universal, consistent and comprehensive values of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), reflecting the principles of customary international law. Many countries also expressed concern about recent developments in the East Sea.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, affirmed that Vietnam always upholds UNCLOS as the international legal framework regulating all activities at sea and in the ocean. Vietnam calls on countries to continue to fully comply with UNCLOS, including the obligation to peacefully resolve disputes and respect the rights of coastal states to conduct legitimate economic activities in their maritime zones defined in UNCLOS.
Regarding the situation in the East Sea, the Vietnamese representative expressed concern over recent incidents in the East Sea that have negatively affected regional peace and security and run counter to the provisions of UNCLOS. Vietnam's consistent stance is that all disputes must be resolved through peaceful means on the basis of UNCLOS and expressed the desire to soon complete a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) with substantive and effective content, in accordance with UNCLOS.
The Ambassador also welcomed efforts to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, notably the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on state responsibility for climate change, the adoption of the High Seas Agreement, and the negotiation of a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution by 2024.
The Ambassador called on countries to ensure a balance between the goals of fisheries conservation and development and the needs of social security and livelihoods of coastal people. In addition, Vietnam is committed to supporting initiatives on climate change response and believes that appropriate support methods and mechanisms to minimize negative impacts should be based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and corresponding to the capacity of each country.
On the same day, the United Nations General Assembly voted to pass a comprehensive resolution on oceans and the law of the sea with 140 votes in favor and 110 co-sponsoring countries, including Vietnam.
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