For the first time, Vietnam has put forth a candidate for the position of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director of the East Sea Institute at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, is running for the 2026-2035 term.

The announcement was made during the 34th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Law of the Sea, held from June 10-14 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu chaired an international workshop titled “Sea Level Rise in the Pacific: Current Situation, Legal Issues and Assessments from the Law of the Sea Perspective” and participated in the annual meeting of the Friends of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) or the UNCLOS Group of Friends.

The workshop attracted around 100 delegates, including experts on maritime law from more than 60 countries, scholars, and representatives from various United Nations agencies.

During the conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu highlighted the nomination of Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, emphasizing the historical significance of UNCLOS.

He described UNCLOS as the "Constitution of the Ocean," a comprehensive legal framework governing all maritime activities and promoting international cooperation for sustainable ocean management.

Vietnamese legal experts at the workshop discussed the impacts of climate change on coastal nations, particularly the threat of rising sea levels.

They advocated for strict adherence to UNCLOS provisions to address these emerging challenges. They also called for the support of established baselines, maritime boundaries, and delimitation agreements to maintain stability and legal order at sea.

The Friends of UNCLOS group, co-chaired by Vietnam and Germany since 2021, aims to enhance cooperation among countries with shared interests in maritime issues. The group now has 115 members, including 12 core countries.

On June 13, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu attended the 125th anniversary celebration of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands. He commended the PCA's contributions to peaceful dispute resolution and the development of international law.

Since joining the PCA in 2012, Vietnam has strengthened its relationship with the court, notably opening a PCA representative office in Hanoi in November 2022. The Vietnamese Government values its partnership with the PCA, viewing it as a crucial element in building a strong judicial system and promoting international integration.

Vietnam aims to become a regional and international hub for peaceful dispute resolution through conciliation and arbitration.

The PCA, established under the 1899 and 1907 Conventions on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, plays a pivotal role in facilitating international dispute resolution between states and foreign legal entities.

Tran Thuong