Vietnam chairs annual meeting of Group of Friends of UNCLOS: Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), at the meeting. (Photo: WVR)

The event was held on the occasion of the 33rd meeting of the States Parties to the UNCLOS (SPLOS 33) which is being organised from June 12-16 at the UN headquarters in New York.

On behalf of the 12 founding countries of the group, Ambassador Giang reviewed its activities over the past year and called on member countries to join efforts to contribute to solving challenges related to sea and oceans, successfully implement Sustainable Development Goal No.14 which is the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, waters and marine resources.

Vietnam chairs annual meeting of Group of Friends of UNCLOS: Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang speaks at the meeting. Photo WVR

The Ambassador emphasised that the group will continue promoting multilateral dialogue and cooperation in the implementation and protection of the universality of the 1982 convention, and described it as a comprehensive legal framework governing all activities related to seas and oceans.

Cornel Feruță, Chair of SPLOS 33, expressed strong support for the value of UNCLOS 1982 in strengthening international law compliance; and appreciated contributions by the group in general and Vietnam in particular in promoting cooperation in the enforcement of the UNCLOS 1982 and ocean governance.

Vietnam chairs annual meeting of Group of Friends of UNCLOS: Cornel Feruță, Chair of SPLOS 33, speaks at the meeting. (Photo: WVR)

He voiced his hope that the group will further promote its role at UN forums in particular and international ones in general to continue pursuing the goals set out when it was established.

The 115-member group was the first initiated by Vietnam, which lobbied for the establishment together with Germany and joined the team of 12 core members, namely Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Jamaica, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Senegal, South Africa, and Vietnam.