Fishing boats operate in the sea off Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The seventh dialogue evaluating arising sea-related issues from the perspective of international law was held virtually on Thursday, drawing more than 250 domestic and foreign experts, as well as delegates from foreign representative agencies in Hà Nội and the media.

The event was jointly organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the British Embassy in Việt Nam and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS).

In his opening speech, Deputy Director of the DAV Dr. Nguyễn Hùng Sơn said the academy wanted to promote dialogue on emerging legal issues to raise public awareness of and reach consensus on the interpretation and application of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), laying a foundation for marine cooperation activities in the region.

The organisers hoped that via the dialogue, parties would offer initiatives in line with international law to promote cooperation in the field, he said.

British Deputy Ambassador to Việt Nam Marcus Winsley highlighted the 1982 UNCLOS as a foundation for ocean governance. The UK considers freedom of navigation as important as its trade with Asia relies on key marine routes in the region, according to the ambassador.

The UK also shares the same concerns with countries, especially Pacific island nations, over rising sea levels.

Florian Constantin Feyerabend, from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation, said Germany always considered safety and freedom of maritime trade routes as common important benefits, supported rules-based order at sea and pledged to protect international law.

Participants at the event shared the impacts of rising sea levels on coastal nations in the region and the world. They underscored the importance of ensuring the stability of international law and suggested measures and scenarios to cope with the sea level rise from national, regional and international perspectives.

They said freedom, safety and security of navigation had been stipulated in important international conventions such as the 1982 UNCLOS and guidelines within the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Scholars expressed their interest in the East Sea and concerns over marine claims that run counter to the 1982 UNCLOS and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)'s ruling on the Philippines' lawsuit in 2016.

They stressed the need to continue maintaining rules-based order at sea in the Indo-Pacific and suggested ASEAN reach common consensus on rights to travelling at sea. 

Via seven editions of the dialogue, the DAV published quality publications about fishing cooperation, marine governance in the East Sea, dealing with plastic wastes, enhancing ASEAN cooperation in the East Sea, and the European Union’s sustainable development experience. — VNS