On June 9, at the plenary session of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Summit (UNOC 3), held in Nice, France, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered an important speech representing 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and shared Vietnam's viewpoint on the conservation and sustainable use of seas, oceans and marine resources.
Yet our oceans face serious challenges. Climate change, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, marine pollution, overfishing and rising geopolitical tensions are all undermining the health of our oceans and eroding trust between nations.
To address these emerging challenges, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared four priority orientations of ASEAN countries, including: Preserving the seas and oceans as a space for peace, development cooperation and shared responsibility; promoting the integration of a global approach and regional efforts in ocean and sea governance; identifying the seas and oceans as a core driving force for prosperous development; and calling for further strengthening global ocean governance, based on cooperation rather than competition, to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal No. 14.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed ASEAN’s stance on upholding the values of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Constitution for the Oceans – and the agreements implementing the Convention, which are the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities at sea and in the oceans. The Prime Minister emphasized ASEAN’s expectation that the UNOC 3 will inspire solidarity, with strong commitments, promote the formation of strategic partnerships, and act as a catalyst for transformative actions for the blue ocean.
Following that, as a representative of Vietnam speaking at the Conference, the Prime Minister raised a paradox and gave a serious warning with the assessment that although the seas and oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and are the largest ecosystems of the "Blue Planet", goal 14 on conservation and sustainable use of the ocean has the lowest investment level among the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
The Prime Minister called on the international community to act faster, stronger, more decisively and to have the cooperation of countries, regions and the whole world in preserving and sustainably using the blue ocean. To do this, the Prime Minister said that it is necessary to persistently and consistently apply a scientific, dialectical approach that is universal, comprehensive and global; based on the principles of fairness, equality, inclusiveness, development cooperation and harmonization of interests; through specific mechanisms, policies, solutions and actions.
The Prime Minister also proposed 6 key orientations including: Focusing on scientific foundations combined with folk experience in policy making; promoting science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, creating new momentum for sustainable marine economic development; unblocking, mobilizing and effectively using resources for marine economic development; comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach in marine and ocean development governance; promoting inter-regional, inter-national, inter-continental connectivity, forming a network of regional and global blue marine economic centers; promoting solidarity and international cooperation in conservation and sustainable development of seas and oceans.
Reaffirming Vietnam's consistent stance as a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community, the Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam has been working with partners to take comprehensive and strong actions at many different levels of measures to realize the goal of conserving and sustainably using the marine environment (SDG 14) in the spirit of "3 proactive": Proactively implementing policies and programs to develop blue marine economic sectors and restore marine ecosystems; proactively promoting cooperation and partnerships with countries, international organizations, and relevant parties, especially in knowledge sharing and technology transfer; proactively proposing and actively participating in and implementing initiatives at national, regional and global levels.
At this Conference, with the motto of valuing time, intelligence, and timely decisiveness, "what is said must be done, what is committed must be implemented effectively and specifically", the Prime Minister announced that Vietnam has registered 15 voluntary commitments in various fields of sea and ocean governance.
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister delivered a strong message: "Let us act together, be united, responsible, proactive and creative so that the ocean will always be a space of peace, cooperation, development and prosperity for today's and future generations"./.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/thu-tuong-dai-duong-cua-chung-ta-dang-phai-doi-mat-voi-nhung-thach-thuc-nghiem-trong-5049536.html
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