Vietnam is still concerned about recent complicated developments in the East Vietnam Sea, which have affected peace, security and stability in the region, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Dang Hoang Giang has said.

The ambassador made the statement at the plenary discussion session of the Sixth Committee (Legal) the 77th UN General Assembly held on Friday, with the participation of nearly 100 member countries and observers, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The diplomat, who is also head of Vietnam’s Permanent Delegation to the UN, stressed that the complex situation in the East Vietnam Sea has undermined trust among countries, increased tensions and posed a risk to the region’s peace and security.

He called on all parties concerned to abide by international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to fully respect relevant diplomatic and legal processes.

He emphasized that every country should respect the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes, uphold the role of universal jurisdiction in dispute resolution, and promote the guarantee of the rule of law at international level.

On the 40th anniversary of the UNCLOS adoption, Vietnam, one of the founding members of the UNCLOS Group of Friends, and nearly 120 other member countries are actively working to promote the understanding of and compliance with the UNCLOS, also known as “the Constitution of the Oceans,” which provides a legal framework for all activities at sea, Giang told the meeting.

In the context of many complicated conflicts going on in the world, international law and basic principles of the UN Charter must be respected as the fundamental foundation of the international law system, the diplomat emphasized.

Vietnam is continuing to carry out judicial reform, strengthen the legal system to build a rule of law state, and will work closely with the UN and other partners to promote the rule of law and ensure stronger adherence to the rule of law at both national and international levels, the ambassador said.

It is necessary to promote the rule of law in different regions and Vietnam is making efforts together with ASEAN countries to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia, Giang affirmed.

The meeting’s participants shared the same view that the rule of law has a close relation with development and plays an essential role in realizing sustainable development goals, ensuring human rights, maintaining international peace and security, and contributing to the implementation of the common agenda based on the principle of respect for national sovereignty.

As one of the six main committees of the UN General Assembly, the Sixth Committee, which consists of representatives from all 193 UN member states, functions to review, discuss and contribute to the promotion of the progress of international law.

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