Hanoi (VNA) – VietnameseAmbassador Dang Hoang Giang underlined the historic significance of the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to all humankind, whilerepresenting more than 40 member states of the UNCLOS Group of Friends at ameeting in New York on December 8.

The meeting of the 77th UNGeneral Assembly session celebrated the 40th anniversary of theadoption and opening for signature of UNCLOS.

Co-chairing the meeting, AmbassadorGiang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said UNCLOS holdshistoric significance to all humankind as it marks an important milestone inthe development of international law of the sea in particular, and the orderlyand sustainable use of the oceans in general.

More than 40 states from allcontinents and regional groups of the UN affirmed that UNCLOS is a globallyrecognised legal framework regulating all activities in the seas and oceans,which has been repeatedly emphasised in resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

They held that the convention is helpful in enhancing international peace,security, and stability, resolving disputes, and promoting sea-basedactivities, thereby fostering the development of each country and the entireinternational community, according to the diplomat.

He also stressed that the maintenanceand fully implementation of UNCLOS is now more urgent than ever amid many long-termchallenges, including sea disputes, transnational organised crimes at sea,resource exhaustion, and emerging maritime issues, including climate change impacts.

Given this, all countries have tocomply with obligations under the convention. Their activities, includingmaritime claims and sea-based activities, must accord with UNCLOS to helpconserve and sustainably use the oceans and marine resources, Giang went on.

All disputes need to be resolved bypeaceful means with full respect for the mechanisms and legal processes stipulatedin UNCLOS, the ambassador remarked.

On this occasion, he also affirmedthat the UNCLOS Group of Friends stay steadfast in pursuing their originalgoals, especially improving the awareness and implementation of UNCLOS, promotingcooperation, identifying challenges, and working together to surmount thosechallenges.

In his speech, UN Secretary-General Guterressaid the adoption of UNCLOS by most nations of the world 40 yearsago was a “vital step to bring governance and order” to the vast collectivetreasure that is the ocean.

He heldthat the 40th anniversary should be “animportant reminder to continue using this critical instrument to tackletoday’s challenges.”

At the meeting, groups of states alsohighly valued the role of UNCLOS, perceiving that the adoption of theconvention 40 years ago, for the first time, created a comprehensive legalframework for sea-related activities.

They also hailed enormouscontributions by UNCLOS and the bodies established under this convention,including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission onthe Limits of the Continental Shelf, and the International Seabed Authority, tothe maintenance of the order of the oceans, as well as the conservation andsustainable use of marine resources./.