Vietnam joins special treaty event on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined global leaders at a high-level event promoting the signing and ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), known as the High Seas Treaty, during the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice, France, on June 9.
The agreement is widely regarded as the most important ocean-related legal instrument of the 21st century so far.
The “Special Treaty Event,” organized by the United Nations, highlighted the significance of the BBNJ Agreement and encouraged countries to become parties to this landmark accord. The event brought together representatives from 35 countries that have signed or deposited instruments of ratification or approval during the course of UNOC 3.
Opening the ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron invited heads of state and UN Secretary-General António Guterres to take a commemorative photo, while underscoring the international community’s shared commitment to protecting and sustainably managing marine biodiversity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son handed over Vietnam’s instrument of approval to Elinor Jane Britt Hammarskjöld, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel, formally notifying the UN of Vietnam’s ratification of the BBNJ Agreement.
Vietnam was among the first countries to sign the agreement on the opening day and is part of the leading group of states that have swiftly completed domestic procedures to become a party. This sends a strong message that the country is a proactive and responsible member of the international community, working alongside other nations to deal with global ocean-related challenges.
The participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-level Vietnamese delegation in this meaningful event indicates the Government’s concrete commitment to a joint effort to build peaceful, prosperous, and sustainably managed oceans.
At UNOC 3, the international community expressed hope that 60 countries will finalize ratification procedures soon, thus enabling the BBNJ Agreement to enter into force within the year.
Marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction represent a promising frontier in the 21st century. Covering more than 60% of the ocean’s surface, these areas host exceptionally rich biodiversity, including rare and economically valuable genes with major scientific applications, particularly in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Currently, only a limited number of developed countries and private companies possess the advanced marine and biotechnologies as well as the financial resources needed to access and exploit these deep-sea genetic resources. So far, there has been no international legal framework requiring benefit-haring or conservation of these resources.
The BBNJ Agreement marks a historic step in the international community’s efforts to protect the marine environment while fostering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.
This is the third legally binding instrument negotiated under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), reaffirming the Convention’s role as the overarching legal framework governing all ocean-related activities, including the equitable sharing and conservation of genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The agreement will take effect 120 days after 60 countries submit ratification or approval documents.
Vietnamese, Greek PMs meet on sidelines of UNOC 3
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Nice, France, on June 9 on the sidelines of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3).
