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Addressing the meeting, Nguyen Ba Cuong from the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands emphasised the role of international law to peace, security and stability.

In the East Sea and other seas around the world, international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), had created a legal order that promoted trade and use of the sea in a peaceful, fair and effective manner as well as activities to preserve biological resources, study and protect the marine environment, Cuong said.

While highlighting Vietnam’s contributions to the development of international law in the East Sea, Cường said like other UNCLOS member countries, Vietnam had been applying the constitution for the oceans.

He added that international law, including the UNCLOS, was a tool for Vietnam to define and clarify its maritime rights and obligations as well as provide mechanisms to settle maritime disputes with neighbouring countries.

The researcher described the UNCLOS as a solid international legal basis for the definition and protection of Vietnam’s seas and continental shelf along with the country’s legitimate rights and interests at sea.

The conference was co-organised by the Development of International Law in Asia, the Korea Maritime Institute and the University of Indonesia with the participation of more than 100 legal researchers and experts./.

VNF/VNS