Addressing an annual plenary debate on oceans and the law of the sea held by the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) on December 8 – 9 in New York, Viet stated that Viet Nam made substantive contributions at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) by registering a series of voluntary commitments on sea management, fisheries governance, and marine pollution reduction.
Viet Nam was among the first countries to sign and ratify the Agreement under the UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), helping it reach the required 60 ratifications for entry into force.
According to the Ambassador, since June this year, as Chair of the 35th meeting of State Parties to UNCLOS (SPLOS 35), Viet Nam has been working with other members to adopt decisions and explore ways to enhance the effectiveness of UNCLOS-established bodies. Notably, Viet Nam’s nomination of a candidate for judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) the 2026–2035 tenure underscores its strong commitment and desire to contribute directly to the interpretation and full implementation of UNCLOS.
Regarding the East Sea/South China Sea, he reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the waters for regional development and prosperity, emphasising Viet Nam’s consistent stance of supporting the settlement of all disputes by peaceful measures, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.
He called on all relevant parties to fully and in good faith comply with their obligations under UNCLOS; respect and implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); exercise restraint and resolve disputes by peaceful measures; and uphold diplomatic and legal processes. He also reaffirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to fully implementing the DOC and working proactively with other countries to develop an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is in line with international law, especially UNCLOS.
Viet welcomed the positive progress made over the past year in global ocean and maritime governance, spotlighting the successful conclusion of UNOC3 in June, which gave strong momentum to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14); the forthcoming entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement in next January; and the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2025, which further clarified states' obligations to protect the marine environment and respond to the impacts of climate change on oceans and seas.
He affirmed Viet Nam’s recognition and appreciation for the work of the bodies established under UNCLOS, including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) - as well as many agencies and discussion processes within the UN in 2025. He stressed that tireless efforts of these bodies, together with the cooperation and contributions of all member states, have helped achieve substantive progress in promoting ocean governance at all levels.
During the debate, UNGA 80 approved four resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, sustainable fisheries, the BBNJ Agreement, and the convening of UNOC 4. For the first time, Viet Nam co-sponsored all four resolutions, underscoring the country’s active role and its increasingly substantial engagement in multilateral processes related to oceans and the law of the sea.
