Representing the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinh highlighted the urgent threats facing marine environments, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the East Sea, internationally known as South China Sea, is both a vital ecological zone and one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. He warned of worsening conditions due to climate change, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, marine pollution, overexploitation of resources, and growing geopolitical tensions.

These challenges are eroding ocean health and undermining the trust and cooperation that peace and sustainable development depend on, he stated.

In response, he said, ASEAN has developed a four-pronged roadmap to safeguard the future of its marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Accordingly, it’s important to preserve oceans as spaces of peace, cooperation, and shared responsibility; advance regional and global collaboration to improve ocean management and decision-making; and harness the ocean as a driver of sustainable prosperity, especially for coastal populations and island nations. In addition, it’s necessary to promote equitable, cooperative ocean governance to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to upholding the values of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is considered the “Constitution of the Oceans” and its relevant agreements, as the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in seas and oceans. He also expressed ASEAN’s hope that UNOC 3 would ignite solidarity and strong commitments, foster strategic partnerships and act as a catalyst for transformative actions towards a healthy blue ocean.

Representing Vietnam at the conference, the Prime Minister then pointed out a stark paradox that while oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and form the planet’s largest ecosystem, SDG 14 that concerns ocean conservation and sustainable use receives the lowest level of investment among all 17 UN SDGs.

He called on the international community to act faster, more vigorously, and more decisively, underlining the need for global unity in conserving and sustainably managing the blue ocean. To achieve this, he stressed the importance of an inclusive, comprehensive, and global approach grounded in the principles of fairness, equality, inclusiveness, cooperative development, and harmonised interests, and implemented through specific mechanisms, policies, and actions.

To overcome the challenges, he proposed integrating scientific foundations with traditional knowledge in policymaking; promoting science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to drive sustainable marine economic development; and mobilising and effectively utilising resources to develop the marine economy.

He emphasised the need to apply a holistic, multi-sectoral approach in ocean governance and development; enhance interregional, international, and intercontinental connectivity to establish a global network of blue marine economic hubs; and uphold solidarity and international cooperation for sustainable ocean conservation and development.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent position as a friend and reliable, proactive, and responsible partner of the international community. He underscored the country’s strong commitment to working closely with partners at all levels to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, in line with SDG 14.

This effort, he said, is anchored in the guiding principle of the “Three Proactives”, namely proactively implementing policies and programmes for developing green marine industries and restoring marine ecosystems; proactively promoting partnerships with countries, international organisations, and stakeholders, particularly in knowledge sharing and technology transfer; and proactively proposing and actively participating in initiatives at national, regional, and global levels.

At the conference, the Prime Minister announced Vietnam’s registration of 15 voluntary commitments across various fields related to ocean and marine governance.

“Let us act together - united, responsible, proactive, and innovative - to ensure that the ocean forever remains a space of peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity for present and future generations,” he concluded.

Vietnam attends United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 in France

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined other world leaders at the opening ceremony of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice, France, on June 9 morning under the theme Scaling up Ocean Action Based on Science and Innovation for the Implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, Partnerships and Solutions.