UN supports Vietnam in using outer space peacefully for sustainable development

On May 5, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna (Austria), attended and delivered a speech at the opening session of the 64th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, United Nations Office on Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

The meeting was attended by more than 100 United Nations member states and international, regional and non- governmental organizations.

The Legal Subcommittee plays a central role in establishing the international legal basis for outer space activities, ensuring that the use of outer space is carried out in a peaceful, transparent and beneficial manner for all humanity.

The annual meeting of the Legal Subcommittee is a forum for legal and scientific experts representing governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to discuss the rules governing activities in outer space in the context of great power competition and rapid development of science and technology.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang highly appreciated the role and efforts of the Legal Subcommittee in promoting the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of outer space through the development of international legal regulations.

As an active and responsible member state of the United Nations and the Committee on the Uses of Outer Space, Vietnam continues to uphold and commit to fulfilling its international obligations under the United Nations international treaties on outer space, including the Outer Space Treaty and the Rescue Agreement.

International scientists attend a space conference in Quy Nhon city (Binh Dinh) last July. (Photo: VNA)

Over the past decade, Vietnam has made steady progress in building a national legal and policy framework to support the development of space activities.

Vietnam's National Strategy for Space Technology Development to 2030 emphasizes the peaceful use of outer space for socio-economic development, technological innovation and environmental monitoring.

Deeply aware of the importance of a solid legal foundation to regulate and facilitate these growing activities, Vietnam is developing a national Space Law to comprehensively reflect Vietnam's international commitments and best practices.

In addition, Vietnam is actively cooperating with UNOOSA and regional partners to prepare a number of cooperation activities to share experiences in law-making, policy-making and to enhance capacity building and regional cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang had a working meeting with UNOOSA Director, Ms. Aarti Holla-Mani.

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang highlighted Vietnam's new space technology achievements (development and launch of Earth observation satellites), thanked and highly appreciated the effective cooperation between UNOOSA and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) with the Vietnam Space Center (VNSC), Hanoi University of Science and Technology in capacity building and technical training, participation in the Satellite Information Sharing Program for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), the "Access to Space for All" Initiative, contributing to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The UNOOSA Director congratulated Vietnam on its overall socio-economic achievements and impressive advances in space technology, and pledged to continue working with partner countries to support Vietnam in using space and applying satellites peacefully for the goal of sustainable development through training projects, capacity building, climate change adaptation, disaster management and environmental protection, smart cities, and law-making./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/lhq-ho-tro-viet-nam-su-dung-khong-gian-vu-tru-hoa-binh-vi-phat-trien-ben-vung-post1036973.vnp