According to the Vietnam News Agency, the 35th SPLOS Conference, attended by 170 member states, is an important annual forum to review the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Here, countries listen to reports and discuss the activities of agencies established under the Convention, including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), as well as relevant reports from the UN Secretary-General. This is an opportunity for countries to propose initiatives, strengthen international cooperation and promote sustainable ocean governance.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, along with representatives from ministries, sectors and the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations. With the high trust of member countries, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu was elected as the Chairman of the Conference - marking the first time Vietnam has assumed this position within the framework of UNCLOS. This is an important milestone, demonstrating Vietnam's increasingly proactive and prestigious role at international forums on the sea.
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| Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu (center) chaired the conference as Chairman, June 23, 2025. (Photo: VNA) |
As Chair, Vietnam has chaired the meetings flexibly and effectively, proactively organized group and bilateral consultations with countries to promote consensus, creating an atmosphere of constructive and substantive dialogue. Delegations highly appreciated Vietnam's coordinating and leading role in bringing the Conference to consensus on many important contents.
At the plenary session, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, spoke on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, reaffirming that UNCLOS is a comprehensive legal framework regulating all activities related to seas and oceans. Vietnam called on countries to fully comply with their obligations under the Convention, while emphasizing its firm commitment to effectively implementing UNCLOS.
Regarding the East Sea, Vietnam affirms that countries need to establish maritime zones in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS, firmly resolve disputes by peaceful means, and promote the early achievement of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law. Vietnam also proposes to enhance international and regional cooperation, especially in technical assistance, transfer of marine technology and capacity building for developing countries in a transparent and appropriate manner.
One of Vietnam’s outstanding contributions at this Conference was to emphasize the importance of science and technology in exploiting and protecting the sea. Vietnam believes that policies and activities related to the ocean need to be built and implemented on a solid scientific basis. This not only ensures effectiveness and sustainability in ocean governance, but also helps narrow the development gap between countries, especially in the context of marine technology playing an increasingly key role. This approach is also consistent with Vietnam’s major orientation in implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
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| Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended the 35th SPLOS Conference on June 23, 2025. (Photo: VNA) |
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Do Hung Viet emphasized that SPLOS is a comprehensive review process on the implementation of UNCLOS, in which the Vietnamese delegation clearly expressed its views on peace, cooperation, respect for international law and promotion of initiatives for sustainable oceans. In particular, Vietnam's submission of the dossier to expand its continental shelf in the central area of the East Sea is a step demonstrating its determination to protect its legitimate rights and interests through legal means.
Representatives of the countries highly appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese delegation at the Conference. The representative of the Lao Permanent Mission to the United Nations emphasized that Vietnam's successful assumption of the role of Chair of the SPLOS 35 Conference not only contributed to promoting the implementation of UNCLOS but also enhanced Vietnam's position in the international arena, especially in the field of maritime and ocean cooperation.
The 35th SPLOS Conference in 2025 also recorded many important developments such as: the process of developing the ISA Seabed Mining Regulations; the issuance of ITLOS's advisory opinion on climate change (May 2024); new recommendations of the CLCS; efforts to ratify the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and preparations for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (France).
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/dau-an-viet-nam-tai-hoi-nghi-cac-quoc-gia-thanh-vien-cong-uoc-lien-hop-quoc-ve-luat-bien-lan-thu-35-214489.html
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