The 12th Ocean Dialogue in HCM City on March 15 (Photo: VNA) The event, held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the KonradAdenauer Stiftung foundation of Germany, drew officials of Vietnameseministries and sectors, domestic and international experts, along with representativesof agencies, research institutes, foreign representative agencies, and some localitiesin the country,
Inhis opening remarks, Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant to the Vietnamese Ministry ofForeign Affairs, underlined the importance of the Indo-Pacific, whichboasts huge potential for maritime connectivity that promises strong economicgrowth.
Hesaid as a trading country, Vietnam is strongly committed to navigation safety, navigationand overflight freedom, and unimpeded maritime connectivity in line withinternational law. Trade revenue makes up a sizeable proportion of the country’sgross domestic product (GDP), and any disruption to maritime trade willstrongly impact its economy.
Vietnamviews safeguarding safety, security, and freedom of navigation in line withinternational law as essential and important, he stated, noting that as acoastal country, it has built a strategy for sustainably developing thesea-based economy by 2030, with a vision to 2045, which lays a stress on maritimeconnectivity.
Theprosperity of the Vietnamese economy now depends on the safety and security ofnavigation corridors. The country pledges to maintain rules-based order andbelieves that respecting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS) provides a foundation for ensuring peace, stability, and orderat sea and is also the most appropriate way for resolving sea-related disputes,according to Vu.
Theofficial went on to say that the dialogue’s tasks include looking into allaspects of maritime connectivity, pointing out challenges and barriers, andworking out innovative ideas and feasible proposals to ensure seas and oceansare always physically, procedurally, digitally, and culturally open, stable,and sustainable.
Hesaid countries are facing big challenges to the conservation and proper utilisationof maritime resources and potential, but thanks to dialogue and cooperation,they can create a path to a sustainable and prosperous maritime ecosystem forall.
The 12th Ocean Dialogue consists offour panel discussions on the connection of key sea routes to ensure globalsupply chains, sustainable smart seaports as an irreversible trend in the blueeconomy, maritime infrastructure connectivity in the digital era, and theconnection of the green corridor network at sea./.
VNA
