Vietnam stresses importance of marine technology in supporting sustainable development

According to the VNA correspondent at the UN, speaking at the conference, Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, affirmed that as the country that proposed the theme of this year's conference, Vietnam understands the importance of innovation, application and transfer of marine technology in supporting sustainable marine economic development, minimizing the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels on coastal countries. Highlighting the importance of regional and international cooperation in the development and application of marine technologies, the Vietnamese representative said that countries need to actively promote the development and transfer of marine science and technology under fair and reasonable terms and conditions, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); calling for the creation of favorable conditions for developing countries to have access to advanced marine technologies with preferential terms. At the same time, the application of marine technologies must comply with the provisions of UNCLOS - a comprehensive legal framework regulating all activities related to seas and oceans.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese representative highlighted Vietnam's achievements in implementing the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Marine Economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and the National Strategy on Climate Change to 2050, especially the application of marine technology in the fields of oil and gas exploration and exploitation, fishing, maritime transport, hydrometeorological forecasting, etc., contributing to supporting the sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy.

Also at the conference, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ba Thuy, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, General Department of Hydro-Meteorology, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as a speaker, presented a report on the current status of marine hydro-meteorological observation and forecasting technology in Vietnam, the limitations that need investment to improve the reliability of marine forecasting. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ba Thuy also proposed contents that need to promote international cooperation, thereby creating conditions for developing countries with seas to access new marine technologies, including observation equipment and forecasting technology, contributing to the sustainable development of the marine economy.

This is the opening activity for a series of events related to seas and oceans at the United Nations in June 2023, including the celebration of UN Oceans Day (June 8), the 33rd Conference of States Parties to UNCLOS and the Conference on the adoption of the international legal instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Informal Consultation Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea was established by the UN General Assembly in 1999 to facilitate the annual review of developments in the field of oceans and the law of the sea, and to suggest specific areas for annual discussion to promote cooperation and coordination among States and specialized agencies related to oceans and seas.

The theme of this year's conference, "New Marine Technology: Challenges and Opportunities," was proposed by Vietnam and unanimously approved by the UN General Assembly in 2022.

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