(VOVWORLD) -Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang underlined the historic significance of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for all humankind, while representing more than 40 member states of the UNCLOS Group of Friends at a meeting in New York on Thursday.
 Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang speaks at the workshop on achievements and challenges since the adoption of the 1982 UNCLOS in New York. (Photo: VNA) |
Co-chairing the meeting, Ambassador Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said UNCLOS is an important milestone in the orderly and sustainable use of the oceans.
The Convention is helpful in maintaining international peace, security, and stability, resolving disputes, and protecting maritime activities, according to the diplomat.
Ambassador Giang called on all countries to comply with obligations under the Convention, saying their maritime claims and activities must accord with UNCLOS to help conserve and sustainably use the ocean and its resources.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the adoption of UNCLOS by most nations of the world 40 years ago was a vital step to bring governance and order to the ocean, a vast collective treasure of humankind.
Guterres said the 40th anniversary should be a reminder to continue using this critical tool to tackle today’s challenges. He called on all parties to ensure that all maritime policies are “underpinned by the best science, and the best economic and social expertise.”
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was ratified on December 10, 1982, by 107 countries, including Vietnam.
The Convention took effect on November 16, 1994, and became one of the most important international documents of the 20th century.
To date, there are 168 signatories to the Convention.
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