Viet Nam attends meeting on UN sea law convention - Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs

NEW YORK (VNS) — Viet Nam has underlined the significant role of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in creating legal frameworks for promoting the exploitation of seas and oceans in a peaceful, fair, stable and effective manner for peace and prosperity.

Addressing the 25th meeting of State Parties to the UNCLOS, which took place in New York from June 8-12, the head of Viet Nam’s Permanent Representative Delegation to the UN, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, said that the East Sea, which was rich in natural resources and the second largest maritime route in the world, should be safeguarded and used in a sustainable way.

The ambassador stressed the need to maintain peace, stability, navigation security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in line with the UNCLOS and international law.

Viet Nam was concerned about current complicated developments in the East Sea, especially large-scale construction activities which changed the natural characteristics of some structures in the sea, destroyed the marine environment and ecosystem and seriously affected peace, stability and security in the region, causing great concern among ASEAN member nations and countries inside and outside the region, Ambassador Nga stated.