Vietnam signs “High Seas” Treaty

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son signed an agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the “High Seas” Treaty, on the morning of September 20 (New York time), within the framework of the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Vietnam is one of the first countries to sign the agreement, in the context of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working trip at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The move conveys a strong message that Vietnam is an active and responsible member of the international community and will join hands with countries around the world to solve global problems, thus contributing to peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

More than 60 countries signed the agreement during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly.

The adoption and signing of the agreement marks a historic milestone in the international community’s efforts to protect the marine environment within the plan of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Sustainable Development Goal 14 on the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

This is the third agreement negotiated and signed within the framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, reaffirming the role and importance of the Convention as a legal framework for all activities on seas and oceans.

The High Seas agreement regulates the benefit exploitation and sharing as well as preserving marine genetic resources in international waters. This is a new potential resource belonging to large sea areas that account for more than 60% of the surface area of oceans and do not belong to any country.

The agreement will take effect once it has been ratified and approved by 60 countries.