According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thanh Ca, former General Director of the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands, while United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets out the legal foundation for ocean governance, the BBNJ Agreement focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
“To implement UNCLOS, we need a more comprehensive agreement with specific provisions on the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Technology transfer is crucial here. Marine genetic resources have enormous value, so implementation at the international level will help ensure that the benefits from these genetic resources are shared fairly, especially for developing countries like Vietnam,” Ca said.
The 15th Ocean Dialogue came at a time when sustainable governance of ocean spaces is becoming increasingly important, said Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Vietnam João Pereira.
"Vietnam is one of the strong countries in this region in prioritizing the ocean and maritime development. This is why this forum is vital for policymakers, for policy implementation officers. They come together with academics to review what has been the progress and what has been challenges to address in ocean and maritime matters," according to the ambassador.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird commented on Vietnam’s role in building and enforcing international cooperation frameworks on ocean to maintain a peaceful, sustainable, and secure maritime space.
"Vietnam is a very active and strong party. It's very important here in the region, including in the South China Sea (East Sea). Vietnam is one of the first countries to ratify the BBNJ and that shows Vietnam's engagements and commitments, not just protecting the ocean but also Vietnam's role in multilateral organizations and multilateral cooperation," she said.
The BBNJ Agreement officially came into force in January 2026 and has been ratified by more than 80 countries, including Vietnam. Vietnam’s active participation in international initiatives on ocean governance not only serves its own development needs, but also contributes to building an effective ocean governance system based on international law and strengthen cooperation among countries.
