Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology attends the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

The Intergovernmental Conference of the United Nations (UN) formally adopts the Agreement. (Source: Vietnamese Delegation to the UN)

The Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction includes: 17 chapters, 76 articles, 2 annexes with main contents revolving around a number of issues including: (i) Sharing of marine genetic resource benefits; (ii) Establishment of marine protected areas; (iii) Environmental impact assessment; (iv) Capacity building and technology transfer and (v) General issues such as decision-making mechanisms of the Conference of States Parties, establishment and operation of agencies and institutions for the implementation of the instrument, dispute settlement and financial mechanisms. Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations, said that the Agreement is a new milestone in the development of international law and contributes to the implementation of the UN decade of marine science for sustainable development, implement the 14th Development Goal on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The agreement is also the third document to implement the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

As a research agency under the Government of Vietnam, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has participated in the interdisciplinary delegation in official negotiation sessions at the United Nations, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries in negotiation activities; propose suggestions on issues related to marine biological gene resources, exploitation and use of technological aspects of gene sequencing, conservation of gene resources as well as related technology transfer. 

The adoption of the BBNJ Agreement has brought a lot of emotions to the units that have directly participated in the negotiations, because in order to be adopted on June 19, 2023, the preparation process for the Intergovernmental Conference, lobbying activities in the UN General Assembly and negotiations has taken nearly 20 years.

Vietnamese interdisciplinary delegation attends the conference. (Source: Vietnamese Delegation to the UN)

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version