The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 is considered the basis for national, regional and global cooperation in the marine sector, says Vietnamese Ambassador Bui The Giang.

Ambassador Giang, who is Charge d’Affaires of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations, made the statement at the 66th General Assembly session’s debate on “Oceans and the Law of the Sea” in New York on December 6.

“In many ways, the Convention constitutes an immense positive contribution to the promotion of international peace and security. It provides universally recognized legal framework for coastal states to establish and exercise rights and obligations in the maritime areas under national jurisdiction,” he said. 

The Ambassador emphasized that the Convention advances the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and provides for a mandatory system to be applied by States Parties to settle any dispute between them.

The provisions of the Convention are closely interrelated and form an integral package, thus not allowing for the possibility of a State Party to pick what it likes and to disregard what it does not like. States Parties, in exercising the rights under the Convention, must be willing to shoulder the corresponding obligations, he noted.

The Vietnamese diplomat also underlined the common view about the enormous significance of sustainable use and development of the oceans and seas, with the maintenance of peace, stability and order at sea being an inseparable part thereof.

He stated: “As a coastal state with a long coastline washed by the East Sea, Vietnam is pleased to note the continued development of regional and international cooperation, including in the uses and management of this sea. In this regard, a key factor lies in the respect of the legal order established by the UNCLOS, to which most States surrounding the East Sea are Parties”.

“In the East Sea, there exist difficult disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime boundaries, which if not properly managed and settled could negatively impact regional peace, security and stability, hinder the legitimate uses of the sea and the resources therein for the developmental needs of the coastal states, as well as other cooperative efforts for sustainable development of the sea,” Ambassador Giang said.

He affirmed Vietnam has worked tirelessly for peaceful solutions to existing disputes in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS, and acceptable to all parties concerned.

Through peaceful negotiations, Vietnam has successfully concluded agreements on the delineation of maritime boundaries in the Tonkin Gulf with China and in the overlapped continental shelf with Indonesia, and on the joint development of the overlapped continental shelf with Malaysia and Thailand pending final boundary delimitation, he added. 

The diplomat said Vietnam commends the adoption of the Guidelines for the implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the stated commitments to working together towards the early finalization of a Code of Conduct.

He reiterated that Vietnam will continue to join efforts with interested parties, particularly its neighboring countries, to create an environment conducive to peace, cooperation, development and ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of all States in the East Sea.

* Nation vows to increase ties with Cuba

Viet Nam is determined to further promote solidarity, friendship and fraternal relations with Cuba.

The announcement was made by Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan during talks with Jose Ramon Balaguer, head of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee's Department of International Relations, and Jaime Crombet, vice president of the Cuban Parliament, in Havana on Monday.

Her visit began on Saturday and ended on Monday.

Ngan spoke highly of the achievements made by the Cuban people in national construction and defence and expressed the Vietnamese Party, Government and people's consistent support for the revolutionary cause and national development of Cuba.

The Cuban leaders affirmed Cuba's determination to promote economic development in parallel with protecting the principles of revolution, for social justice and national sovereignty.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting and strengthening relations between the two legislative bodies, while creating favourable conditions for the two countries' lawmakers to exchange experiences in compiling and building legal documents.

On the occasion, Crombet asked Ngan to convey President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon's invitation to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Sinh Hung to visit Cuba.

On the evening of the same day, at a meeting with Alarcon, Ngan affirmed Viet Nam's support for the Cuban people's efforts towards the lifting of the US economic embargo on Cuba.

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