Viet Nam nominated as Chair of 35th meeting of State Parties to UNCLOS

The position will be officially elected before the meeting scheduled to take place from June 23-27 at the UN Headquarters in New York, the U.S.

Once elected, it will mark the first time Viet Nam assumes the presidency of SPLOS since becoming a member of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1994.

The nomination reflects the high level of trust and recognition from the international community for Viet Nam's leadership in implementing and promoting the universal values of UNCLOS, as well as its active contributions to the UN's common efforts.

Taking on the role of the Chair of the 35th SPLOS meeting represents an opportunity for Viet Nam to further affirm its position as a responsible member and make substantive contributions to global efforts in ocean and maritime governance.

Over the years, Viet Nam has consistently regarded UNCLOS as a "constitution of the oceans" and a fundamental basis for maritime cooperation. The country has made significant achievements in resolving maritime delimitation issues with its neighbors.

Notable milestones include the signing of the maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Thailand in 1997, Viet Nam-China Agreement on the delimitation of the territorial sea in 2000, the completion of a continental shelf delimitation agreement with Indonesia in 2003, and a conclusive decision regarding their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) boundaries with Indonesia in 2022.

Viet Nam has actively and proactively participated in activities within the frameworks of mechanisms established under UNCLOS, such as serving as a member of holding its membership at the Council and the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority.

It was an active participant in negotiations and one of the first countries to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the most recent international document related to the implementation of the Convention.

The UNCLOS was adopted on December 10, 1982, and officially came into effect on November 16, 1994. Viet Nam was among the first 107 countries to sign the Convention and later ratified it on June 23, 1994.

The SPLOS is an annual meeting convened by the UN Secretary-General under the provisions of the UNCLOS. It serves as a crucial forum for all member states to review the implementation of the Convention, exchange and discuss emerging issues related to its enforcement and global ocean governance, and make necessary decisions to strengthen the Convention's implementation./.