New York (VNA) – The31st Meeting of the States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS) is taking place at the UN headquarters in New York from June21 to 25.

The event looked into thereports by the bodies established under the convention such as theInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and the InternationalSeabed Authority, along with their procedural, budgetary, and personnelaffairs.

At the June23 debate on the UN Secretary-General’s report about the issues related to seasand oceans, UN agencies’ activities, and international cooperation over thepast year, participants called for adherence to the 1982 UNCLOS, and strongerregional and international cooperation in sea and ocean-related areas as wellas in responding to such challenges as marine pollution and climate change,thereby contributing to the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 onthe conservation and sustainable development of seas and oceans.

Addressingthe meeting, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam tothe UN, reiterated that the 1982 UNCLOS is a comprehensive framework thatregulates all activities in the oceans and seas, helping to guarantee safety,security, and freedom of navigation, maintain international peace and security,and carry out the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He highlightedVietnam’s efforts to promote negotiations on maritime border demarcation withregional countries, the marine environment protection, and bilateral andmultilateral cooperation in maintaining maritime security, fighting illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing, and developing the sea-based economy.

With regardto the East Sea issue, Quy stated this body of water is an importantinternational shipping route, and that the maintenance of peace, security,stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in the sea is critical to regionaland international peace and development.

All disputesmust be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law, includingthe UN Charter and the 1982 UNCLOS, with respect for diplomatic and legalprocesses, and without the use of force or threats to use force, he reaffirmed.

The diplomatvoiced his concern over some recent incidents in the East Sea that haveseriously violated Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction.

He called onthe relevant parties to exercise self-restraint; not conduct militarisation or militaryactivities complicating the situation, escalating disputes, and affectingsafety and security of navigation and overflight in the East Sea which maythreaten regional peace and stability; while fully implementing the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and soon finalising a substantive andefficient Code of Conduct that matches international law, including the 1982UNCLOS.

The 1982UNCLOS, taking effect on November 16, 1994, has been ratified by 186 states andinternational organisations. Fourteen other states have signed but yet toratified the convention./.