Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu attended the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman, on February 16-17, which gathered leaders, senior officials, and scholars from over 40 countries and international organizations globally.

The Vietnamese diplomat  participated in various sessions and delivered a speech at the plenary session.

In his remarks, Vu underscored the Indian Ocean’s significance as a major corridor for over 50% of global container shipping and two-thirds of global oil transport. He affirmed that maritime connectivity is a cornerstone of global peace, security, and development. With increasing interdependence among nations, he accentuated the urgent need for joint efforts to deal with both traditional and emerging challenges. Amidst this evolving landscape, he called for a shared vision to promote stability, sustainability, and stronger linkages across oceans and seas, including the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the East Sea.

To advance this vision, Deputy Minister Vu outlined a five-point proposal:

- Upholding international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strictly adhering to fundamental principles such as respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution.

- Leveraging existing UNCLOS-based mechanisms to step up effective maritime cooperation and jointly tackle pressing issues like climate change and rising sea levels.

- Strengthening economic connectivity for sustainable growth, with an emphasis on enhancing port and transport network integration.

- Promoting knowledge-sharing, awareness-raising, and capacity-building in maritime affairs.

- Maximizing the role of regional and sub-regional frameworks, including ASEAN, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), to expand collaboration and ensure transparency.

Reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, Deputy Minister Vu also introduced Vietnam’s first-ever nomination for a judge position at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term.

On the sidelines of the conference, he engaged in substantive discussions to boost bilateral ties with Oman. He met with Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion Qais Bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology Khamis Al-Shammakhi, and Vice Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority Sheikh Nasser Bin Suliman Alharthy.

 Both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security, and the Halal industry while optimizing the Vietnam-Oman Investment (VOI) joint fund’s potential in Vietnam.

Building regional architecture highlighted at Indian Ocean Conference

VOV.VN -Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh underlined the significance of building regional architecture at the third Indian Ocean Conference which concluded in Hanoi on August 28, with nearly 300 delegates from 40 countries and territories in attendance.