The nomination reflects the high trust and recognition from the international community for Vietnam’s leading efforts in implementing and strengthening the universal values of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as its positive contributions to the work of the UN since it joined the convention in 1994.

The Group of Asia-Pacific states at the United Nations (UN) last weekend agreed to nominate Vietnam for the position of Chair of the 35th meeting of the States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS).

The position will be officially elected just before the meeting slated for June 23-27 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The nomination reflects the high trust and recognition from the international community for Vietnam’s leading efforts in implementing and strengthening the universal values of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as its positive contributions to the work of the UN since it joined the convention in 1994.

Holding the position will be an opportunity for the country to continue asserting its role as a responsible member state of UNCLOS and to make a meaningful contribution to global efforts in ocean governance.

Over the past years, Vietnam has considered UNCLOS as the Constitution of the Oceans and a crucial basis for implementing maritime cooperation activities. It has achieved significant accomplishments in solving maritime delimitation issues with neighbouring countries such as Thailand, China and Indonesia, enriching the practical application of the convention’s provisions.

Vietnam has also actively participated in UNCLOS-related activities, such as 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.

It has nominated experienced and highly skilled experts to various UNCLOS-established bodies, including a candidate for the position of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term. At the UN, Vietnam co-founded the UNCLOS Group of Friends with over 100 member countries from all regions to promote the universality of the Convention and enhance its effective implementation.

UNCLOS that regulates all maritime activities was adopted on December 10, 1982, and officially came into force on November 16, 1994. Vietnam was one of the first 107 countries to sign and later ratify the Convention on June 23, 1994. At present, it has 170 member states.

SPLOS is an annual conference convened by the UN Secretary-General under the provisions of UNCLOS. It is an essential forum where all member states review the implementation of the Convention, discuss emerging issues in its application, and make decisions on necessary measures to enhance its enforcement and global ocean governance.

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Vietnam had a very successful dialogue on its fourth-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) National Report with the participation of a large number of United Nations member countries on May 7, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet said, adding that the country brought to the session four important messages.

Vietnam had a very successful dialogue on its fourth-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) National Report with the participation of a large number of United Nations member countries on May 7, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet said, adding that the country brought to the session four important messages.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Geneva after the national report was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council’s UPR Working Group on May 10, Viet said that the first message was the affirmation of the importance of peace, national independence, and the right of national self-determination to development efforts and promotion of human rights.

Secondly, Vietnam wants to emphasise that there is no single correct model in the field of ensuring and promoting human rights, as each country, depending on its circumstances, conditions, and level of socio-economic development, will be able to choose its own path.

The third message was that with its consistent policy on protecting and promoting human rights, Vietnam has very seriously implemented the UPR recommendations that it accepted in the previous cycle and achieved numerous positive results, especially in perfecting the legal system and ensuring human rights in practice, thus bringing very practical results to its people.

The fourth was that despite facing many difficulties and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the participation of the entire political system, the engagement, companionship, and consensus of the people, Vietnam has overcome difficulties, protected people’s health and lives, boosted socio-economic recovery and development, and improved people’s lives, said Viet.

Assessing 320 recommendations that Vietnam received from 133 countries during the dialogue, the official stated that most of them have positive contents and Vietnam can accept them. But some need to be considered further in terms of compatibility with Vietnam’s laws, policies, resources and enforcement capabilities.

As for the recommendations which are not really appropriate and based on inaccurate information about ensuring freedom of speech, press and assembly, Vietnam will continue to hold dialogue and provide information to those countries so that they better understand the actual situation in Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam will carefully study the recommendations and announce the country’s stance on them before the 57th session of the UNHRC.

In the time ahead, the Foreign Ministry and ministries and agencies in the working group for UPR of Vietnam will review, assess and make recommendations to the Prime Minister regarding the country’s position about the recommendations, which will be announce ahead of the 57th session of the UNHRC slated for October this year, added the deputy minister.

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The L’Unione Sarda news website of Italy recently published an article commemorating Vietnam’s courage during the Dien Bien Phu Victory, which occurred 70 years ago.

Titled “Vietnam, the Lesson Still Relevant Today,” the article authored by Antonio Barracca highlights Vietnam’s remarkable feat as a poor, primarily agrarian nation at the time, managing to overcome the armies of two major world powers.

Barracca recalls his visit to Vietnam shortly after the war’s conclusion, depicting Hanoi as an agricultural hub with scant illumination, its streets mostly deserted save for bicycles. He notes that the notable structures belonged to the era of French colonization.

The pivotal Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954, culminating in Vietnam’s resounding triumph, marked a turning point in the Indochina War, leading to peace agreements signed on July 21, 1954, compelling France to withdraw its forces from the entire region.

The author also points out Vietnam’s subsequent victory over US troops on April 30, 1975, leading to the complete liberation and reunification of the country.

Barracca underscores the lesson from conflicts like Vietnam’s, emphasizing that it is incumbent upon the stronger party to cease hostilities “if we desire the triumph of justice over injustice.”

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