The discussion drew broad participation from representatives of UN Member States, bodies established under the Convention, as well as numerous international and regional organizations.

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, welcomed the positive advances made in global ocean and maritime governance over the past year. He highlighted in particular the success of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in June 2025 in advancing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14; the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement scheduled to enter into force in January 2026; and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2025, which further clarified states’ obligations to protect the marine environment and respond to the impacts of climate change on oceans and seas.

On this occasion, the ambassador expressed Vietnam’s recognition of and high appreciation for the work of the mechanisms established under UNCLOS, including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), along with various UN bodies and discussion processes conducted throughout 2025. He noted that the tireless efforts of these institutions and processes, together with the collective contributions of UN Member States, have generated tangible momentum in promoting ocean governance at all levels.

Reviewing the past year, Ambassador Do Hung Viet said Vietnam was proud to have made substantive contributions to the global ocean agenda and to promoting the implementation of UNCLOS. At UNOC3, Vietnam registered a number of voluntary commitments related to marine management, fisheries governance, and the reduction of marine pollution. Vietnam was also among the first countries to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement, helping secure the required threshold of 60 ratifications and approvals for its entry into force.

Since June 2025, in its capacity as Chair of the 35th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS (SPLOS 35), Vietnam has been working closely with other countries to deliberate and adopt decisions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the bodies established under the Convention.

Notably, Vietnam’s first-ever nomination of a candidate for election as a judge of ITLOS for the 2026-2035 term stands as clear evidence of its strong commitment and desire to contribute directly to further accelerating the comprehensive interpretation and application of UNCLOS.

With regard to the East Sea, Ambassador Do Hung Viet reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in this maritime area for the region’s shared development and prosperity. He underscored Vietnam’s principled stance on supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

He called on all relevant parties to fully and in good faith fulfill their obligations under the Convention; to respect and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); to exercise restraint; and to resolve disputes peacefully while respecting diplomatic and legal processes. He further reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to continued full implementation of the DOC and to working closely with other countries toward the formulation of an effective, substantive, and international law-compliant Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), particularly in line with UNCLOS.

Within the framework of the debate, the 80th UN General Assembly adopted four resolutions covering oceans and the law of the sea, sustainable fisheries, the BBNJ Agreement, and the convening of the fourth UN Ocean Conference (UNOC4). For the first time, Vietnam acted as a co-sponsor of all four resolutions, underscoring its increasingly active role and deepening engagement in multilateral processes on oceans and the law of the sea.

Vietnam elected Chair of 35th meeting of State Parties to UNCLOS

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has been elected Chair of the ongoing 35th meeting of the States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS 35) which opened in New York on June 23.

Vietnam calls for full adherence to UNCLOS legal standards, obligations

All countries, regardless of size, must fully comply with the legal standards and obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has affirmed.