Dialogue is the door to resolving disputes and promoting the progress of the Law of the Sea

Khai mac Đối thoại Biển lần thứ 14 với chủ đề “Cơ chế giải quyết tranh chấp trong Công ước Liên hợp quốc về Luật biển 1982: Vai trò, Hiệu lực, Hiệu quả”. (Ảnh: Thành Long)

Opening of the 14th Ocean Dialogue on May 7 in Hanoi. (Photo: Thanh Long)

The event was attended by nearly 160 delegates in person and online (of which 130 delegates participated in person, about 50 delegates participated online). Nearly 20 speakers from 14 countries and territories; about 40 delegates from nearly 30 foreign representative agencies in Vietnam; more than 70 delegates from central agencies, departments, ministries, research institutes, universities from many localities across the country.

In his orientation speech, Party Central Committee member and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong welcomed the 14th Ocean Dialogue, which was held at the right time and became a prestigious forum, attracting the attention of the international community in ensuring legal order at sea.

The UNCLOS Convention in general and dispute settlement mechanisms in particular contribute to strengthening the stability of the legal order at sea, ensuring maritime security, peace, and sustainable global economic development, and promoting international cooperation for long-term ocean governance.

Vietnam affirms its commitment to comply with UNCLOS, continue to contribute to common efforts, promote international legal cooperation on the sea, for peace, stability, prosperity, based on international law.

Uỷ viên Trung ương Đảng, Thứ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao, Tiến sĩ Nguyễn Mạnh Cường phát biểu khai mạc. (Ảnh: Thành Long)

Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong welcomed the 14th Ocean Dialogue being held at the right time and becoming a prestigious forum. (Photo: Thanh Long)

In her opening speech at the Sea Dialogue, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh said that the UNCLOS Convention is an effort of the international community in establishing a unified legal framework for sustainable and peaceful use of the sea.

UNCLOS has codified a comprehensive system of Law of the Sea, becoming the legal foundation for global ocean governance. One of the outstanding achievements of UNCLOS is the provision of regulations related to dispute settlement mechanisms.

These mechanisms not only provide a framework and options for dispute resolution but also serve as a basis for promoting a legal order at sea.

As the international community celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Dialogue is an opportunity not only to assess the role of the dispute settlement mechanism within the framework of UNCLOS in the peaceful settlement of disputes, but also to promote the progressive development of the law of the sea, and to identify ways to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the mechanism in responding to emerging challenges.

Phó Giám đốc Học viện Ngoại giao, PGS.TS. Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh phát biểu tại buổi Đối thoại. (Ảnh: Thành Long)

Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh affirmed that one of the outstanding achievements of UNCLOS is that it has provided regulations related to dispute settlement mechanisms. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird stressed that important events such as the Ocean Dialogue affirm the importance of peaceful settlement of disputes based on international rules and norms, not by force, might or scale. Peace is important for the economies of Australia and Southeast Asia as countries rely on open sea lanes for trade and economic development.

She stressed that UNCLOS provides a comprehensive legal framework for all activities at sea and in the ocean, and creates the foundation for peace, security and stability in the region; Australia and Timor Leste have established good practice in participating in the first conciliation process under UNCLOS to peacefully resolve maritime agreements between the two countries.

Đại sứ Australia tại Việt Nam, Bà Gillian Bird nhấn mạnh những sự kiện quan trọng như Đối thoại biển khẳng định tầm quan trọng của hoà bình giải quyết tranh chấp dựa vào quy tắc và chuẩn mực quốc tế, không phải bằng đe dọa/sử dụng vũ lực, sức mạnh hay quy mô. (Ảnh: Thành Long)

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird emphasized that important events such as the Ocean Dialogue affirm the importance of peaceful dispute resolution based on international rules and standards. (Photo: Jackie Chan)

Representing the KAS Institute, Ms. Olivia Schlouch, Manager of the Asia Rule of Law Dialogue Program, positively assessed the development of the Sea Dialogue series in recent times.

The Ocean Dialogue has become a prestigious international forum, gathering many leading experts in the maritime field, policy makers from many parts of the world. International Law of the Sea, along with its impacts on cooperation, environmental protection, and dispute resolution, is of great significance from a legal, strategic, and regional perspective.

Ms. Olivia reaffirmed her belief in the multilateral rules-based order in ensuring peace and stability in the world's seas and oceans. The mechanisms provided for in Part XV of UNCLOS demonstrate that international law has established peaceful and systematic ways to resolve disputes.

In addition, Ms. Olivia Schlouch expressed strong support for Vietnam's nomination for the position of Judge at ITLOS, showing that the S-shaped country is increasingly affirming its capacity, prestige and demonstrating its leading role in the field of international Law of the Sea.

Đại diện từ phía Viện KAS, bà Olivia Schlouch phát biểu tại buổi Đối thoại. (Ảnh: Thành Long)

Representative from KAS, Ms. Olivia Schlouch expressed strong support for Vietnam's nomination for the position of Judge at ITLOS. (Photo: Jackie Chan)

Previously, on the sidelines of the 14th Sea Dialogue, on the evening of May 6, Chief Justice of the ITLOS Tomas Heidar gave an important introductory speech sharing about the role of the ITLOS in peacefully resolving disputes.

ITLOS Chief Justice Tomas Heidar stressed that the Court has received strong trust from member states and demonstrated its effective role in resolving international maritime disputes.

Through the settlement of many important precedents, ITLOS affirms its central role and makes important contributions to clarifying and developing the law of the sea, including legal issues such as maritime boundary delimitation or the impact of climate change.

Chief Justice Tomas Heidar affirmed that ITLOS continues to be a specialized forum to help member states peacefully resolve and provide legal advice on disputes, contributing to strengthening the legal order at sea on the basis of UNCLOS.

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Workshop on the Role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Resolving Disputes Related to the Law of the Sea

The 14th Ocean Dialogue focused on discussing the following contents: Dispute settlement mechanism in UNCLOS: Looking back at the past; Contribution of the dispute settlement mechanism in UNCLOS to peace and stability at sea; Contribution of the dispute settlement mechanism to the development of the law of the sea; Exploring the future prospects of the dispute settlement mechanism within and outside UNCLOS.

After 14 times of organization, Ocean Dialogue has become a prestigious international scientific forum for experts, scholars and policy makers to seek solutions towards peace, stability, development and good governance in the oceans.