Delegates at the 15th Ocean Dialogue held on September 18 in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — More than 140 Vietnamese and international delegates gathered in Hà Nội on Friday for the 15th Ocean Dialogue, focusing on how to move from commitments under the BBNJ Agreement to concrete measures for equitable and effective ocean governance.

Themed “From Agreement to Action: Implementing BBNJ for Equitable and Effective Ocean Governance,” the dialogue was jointly organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Việt Nam, the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS), the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Australian Embassy in Việt Nam.

Discussions focused on translating commitments under the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly known as the BBNJ Agreement, into concrete legal, institutional and cooperation frameworks.

At the opening, Associate Professor Dr Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Việt Nam, said the BBNJ Agreement had helped establish a comprehensive framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

As an agreement implemented within the framework of the UNCLOS, the BBNJ Agreement needs to be implemented consistently with UNCLOS and existing global, regional and sectoral cooperation mechanisms, she said.

Lan Anh stressed that effective implementation needs to begin at the national level, supported by international cooperation as well as science and technology.

She said Việt Nam's Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, issued by the Party Central Committee on July 28, 2026, identifies the goal of building and developing Việt Nam into a strong maritime nation, while emphasising modern ocean governance, marine science and technology, and a healthy and sustainable marine environment.

These orientations are consistent with the objectives of implementing the BBNJ Agreement and reaffirm Việt Nam's commitment to international law, including UNCLOS, she said.

Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Gillian Bird said the theme of this year's Ocean Dialogue was particularly relevant as oceans and marine ecosystems face growing pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Australia considers a healthy, safe and sustainable ocean essential to national prosperity and security, she said.

Ambassador Bird said Australia was ready to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and participate in the first meeting of its members in January 2027 as a State Party.

Australia would also support countries in the region in preparing for implementation of the Agreement, including through experience-sharing in marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments and ocean governance, she said.

Among Australia's initiatives is the AU$160 million Southeast Asia Maritime Security Partnerships, which aims to support Việt Nam and regional partners in strengthening maritime cooperation, governance and capabilities.

Meanwhile, Lewe Paul, Representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Việt Nam, said Germany regarded marine biodiversity protection, ocean conservation and the maintenance of a rules-based international order as important areas of international cooperation.

Germany had actively supported the negotiations on the BBNJ Agreement and continued to promote its effective implementation through concrete actions, he said.

Paul noted that Germany had developed, amended and adopted relevant legislation, including the Act on the Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and legislation concerning its implementation, to fulfil international commitments and prepare its domestic legal framework.

He said the Ocean Dialogue provided an important platform for exchanging perspectives, connecting law with policy, international commitments with national implementation, and science with policymaking.

The event drew 17 international delegates from 10 countries, around 40 representatives from foreign diplomatic missions in Việt Nam, and about 80 representatives from Vietnamese central-level agencies, research institutes, universities and media organisations.

The 15th Ocean Dialogue was structured around three sessions – “Aligning the BBNJ Agreement with National Legal and Institutional Frameworks,” “Operationalising International Cooperation under the BBNJ Framework,” and “Institutional Mechanisms and Enabling Frameworks for an Effective Implementation of BBNJ.”— VNS