Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Vu delivered the opening remarks of the 4th ARF Workshop on 1982 UNCLOS and other international instruments to adress emerging maritime issues. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

The hybrid ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshop, co-organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU, Australia and New Zealand, brought together about 200 representatives from 27 ARF member countries, regional and international organisations, diplomatic offices, research institutes, ministries and agencies.

In his opening remarks, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu reiterated the significance of the 1982 UNCLOS, especially in the context of emerging challenges to the settlement of maritime issues, requiring intensive and extensive international cooperation.

The 1982 UNCLOS is an important basis for countries in the region to enhance trust and cooperation, for peace, security and prosperity, he stressed, adding that all disputes and maritime issues should be addressed by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the Convention.

Assistant of Foreign Minister Vu viewed the workshop as a demonstration of regional commitment to international cooperation to cope with the challenges.

Thomas Wiersing, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, emphasised the leading role of ASEAN in promoting peace and stability in the region. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

Thomas Wiersing, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, emphasised the leading role of ASEAN in promoting peace and stability in the region, affirming the EU’s support for the early completion of a substantive and legally-binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

Chargé d'affaires of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi Mark Tattersall spoke highly of the ARF’s role in security and cooperation dialogues in Indo-Pacific. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

Chargé d'affaires of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi Mark Tattersall spoke highly of the ARF’s role in security and cooperation dialogues in Indo-Pacific.

Dr. Christian Schultheiss, Senior Expert of the EU Multilateral Forum in Asia and the Max Planck Institute of International Law chaired the panel discussion. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

Delegates shared the view that the 1982 UNCLOS is the most crucial legal tool to maintain peace and stability in the region, creating a framework to push ahead with the settlement of both traditional and emerging maritime issues in the region.