Full keynote speech by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at 3rd UN Ocean Conference

Mr. co-hosts,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. It is my honor to deliver a keynote speech at this Conference on behalf of 10 Southeast Asian Nations Member States, namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and my country-Viet Nam.

2. As a bridge between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, ASEAN – a community of 10 nations, including littoral countries, landlocked countries, and island countries- is located at the heart of maritime Asia – a convergence point of trade flows, cultures and cooperation for centuries. The East Sea is one of the world's most strategic maritime areas, hosting critical shipping lanes, rich marine ecosystems, providing a source of livelihoods, cultural identity, and security for hundreds of millions of people.

3. However, our oceans are facing many serious challenges. Climate change, sea level rise, depletion of biodiversity, marine pollution, overfishing, and rising political tensions have gradually affected the health of the oceans and eroded trust between countries.

4. Given the context, our ASEAN countries would like to share the following four priority orientations at this conference:

First, the oceans and seas must always be spaces of peace, cooperation, development and shared responsibility

Maritime disputes must be resolved through diplomatic and legal processes, peaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), instead of power thinking and coercive behaviors.

Stability in the oceans and seas serves as the solid foundation for prosperity on land. We underscore the importance of bolstering maritime cooperation, confidence-building and mutual trust while promoting self-restraint in the conduct of activities at seas.

We reaffirm the UNCLOS 1982 is the "constitution of the ocean", a comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in the oceans and seas. We call for effective implementation of the three following Agreements:

• The 1994 Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the UNCLOS 1982;

• The 1995 Agreement relating to conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks;

• The 2023 Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).

Secondly, promoting the integration of consistent global approach and regional efforts in ocan and sea governance.

ASEAN commits to protecting the health of the oceans, strengthening regional cooperation through practical measures and actions. ASEAN remains steadfast to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and rule-based order. ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) upholds ASEAN centrality in promoting peaceful maritime cooperation in the region in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS 1982.

ASEAN Maritime Outlook (AMO) serves as a supplementary tool for ASEAN to promote synergy between its various maritime-related sectoral bodies, and enhance strategic trust and consensus.

Fully aware of specific challenges and priorities of each region in sea and ocean governance, ASEAN has translated its broad goals into concrete actions through initiatives like ASEAN Declaration on Plastic Circularity, Bangkok Declaration on Combatting Marine Debris in ASEAN Region, and ASEAN Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris.

Third, seas and oceans serve as a core driver of prosperous development.

Blue economy is our master plan for the future - a vision that combines harmoniously livelihoods, conservation and innovation. ASEAN has defined this as a new engine for sustainable growth economically, socially and environmentally.

ASEAN has invested in Blue Economy in order to promote sustainable growth, ensure food security and energy security, while protecting marine biodiversity.

With the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, we are transforming activities at seas, rivers and lakes into a driving force for inclusive and sustainable growth while enhancing capacity to cope with climate change and mitigate pollution.

Fourth, we call for further strengthening global ocean and sea governance based on cooperation instead of competition, in a bid to accelerate the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14).

Countries need to strengthen support for marine scientific research, capacity-building, and transfer of marine technology, especially from developed countries to developing countries.

We support the incorporation of these goals into the processes of negotiating and implementing binding international legal documents, including controlling marine debris.

Measures must be taken on par with the set ambitious goals. The targets of the SDG 14 will still be far beyond reach if there remains the lack of fairness in resource mobilization and access.

Mr. co-hosts, distinguished guests,

5. ASEAN underlines the supplementarity between the United Nations 2030 Agenda on sustainable development and ASEAN Community Building process in order to improve the quality of life of our people. The implementation of sustainable development goals, including goal 14 , remain one of our top priorities.

ASEAN hopes that the 3^rd United Nations Ocean Conference would stimulate solidarity spirit and strong commitments to accelerate the formulation of strategic partnerships and serve as a catalyst for transformative actions for the blue oceans.

ASEAN supports the adoption of a Political Declaration through consensus – a joint commitment to restoring, protecting and using the oceans and seas in a sustainable manner.

We should overcome narrow-minded interests and limitations, work together and expand our mind to welcome a common future full of hope that the oceans bring about – a future of connectivity instead of division, sustainability instead of depletion, solidarity instead of fragmentation between countries around the world.

Mr. co-hosts, distinguished guests,

6. I have presented the common vision of ASEAN on the oceans and seas. Now, I would like to share Viet Nam's vision on this critically vital issue:

The seas and oceans account for more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface and represent the largest ecosystem on the "Blue Planet". However, the SDG 14 remains the least-funded among 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This is a paradox and serious warning, especially in the context that the oceans and seas are under threats. This requires faster, stronger, more drastic actions and common efforts by countries, regions and the whole world in conserving and using sustainably the blue oceans.

7. To achieve that, we need to focus on harmoniously and effectively resolving the following relations: (i) between economic targets and environment; (ii) between advanced technologies and traditional identity; (iii) between development and conservation; (iv) between national interests and common interests of the humankind.

These are complicated issues with far-reaching impacts on all people, all aspects across the globe. Therefore, we must be steadfast and consistent with a scientific, dialatical, people-centric and global-level approach on the basis of fairness, equality, inclusiveness, development cooperation, harmonization of interests; with specific mechanisms, policies, solutions and actions.

8. Against that backdrop, I would like to propose six major orientations as follows:

- First, paying attention to scientific foundations in combination with traditional experience in policy-making. It is necessary to fully understand marine ecosystem, fully evaluate economic, social and environmental impacts and utilize local knowledge; ensure harmonization between economic development and conservation of marine biodiversity, lifestyle, cultural traditions, and identities of people.

- Second, promoting science, technology, innovation, digital transformation to create new driving force for sustainable marine economy development. Focusing on building a comprehensive and inter-connected database system; advancing the development of traditional marine economic activities such as oil and gas, fishing, salt making, marine tourism, etc, while promoting new areas like renewable energy, offshore wind power, seaport infrastructure, submarine communication cables, and submarine power cables, etc.

- Third, unlocking, mobilizing and effectively using resources for marine economy development. The State shall take enabling role – businesses shall take pioneering role – people shall actively participate in and take gains – international partners and financial institutions shall play a supporting role. Promoting public-private partnerships.

- Fourth, it is necessary to put in place a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach in ocean and sea governance. Mitigating conflicts and enhancing supplementarity between marine economic activities; ensuring harmonization between marine economic development space and living space and livelihoods of people.

- Fifth, promoting inter-regional, inter-national and inter-continental connectivity, formulating regional and global marine economic hubs. Cooperation and mutual support instead of competition and race to the bottom. Developed countries need to enhance assistance and transfer of technology, ocean governance experience, and training of human resources for developing and least developed countries.

- Sixth, upholding international solidarity and cooperation in conservation and sustainable development of oceans and seas. The United Nations should play a central role in coordinating initiatives and programs for cooperation. International law serves as the foundation for coordinating actions between countries on the basis of fairness, equality and mutual benefits.

9. In pursuit of the consistent policy of being a trusted, active and responsible friend and partner of the international community, Viet Nam has worked with partners to take comprehensive and strong actions at various levels to realize the goal of conserving and sustainably using the marine environment with the following spirit.

- Proactively implementing policies and programs to advance the development of blue economic industries and the restoration of marine ecosystem; contribute to global efforts for blue oceans, peace and sustainable development.

- Proactively promoting cooperation and partnership with countries, international organizations and relevant stakeholders, especially in sharing knowledge and transferring technologies. Viet Nam stands ready to be a trusted partner and to make contributions in this area.

- Proactively proposing and actively joining and implementing initiatives at national, regional and global levels.

10. At this conference, Viet Nam has made 15 voluntary commitments in various fields of sea and ocean governance.

Let us act together, be united, responsible, proactive and creative so that the ocean will always be a space of peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity for current and future generations!

Thank you./.