Among international legal documents signed since World War 2, the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea is considered the second-most important, following only the United Nations Charter.
On June 23, 1994, Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified the Convention, making the country the 63rd member.
With 320 articles and 9 annexes, the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea is considered the international community’s “Constitution for the oceans”, reflecting new development tendencies in the exploitation of seas and oceans.
The 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea officially came into force on November 16, 1994, meeting the aspirations and expectations of the international community for a new and comprehensive legal order governing the use and exploitation of oceans and sea management. To date, the Convention has 168 members (including 167 countries and the European Union).
The resolution on the ratification of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea by the National Assembly 25 years ago demonstrated the determination of Vietnam and the international community to develop a fair legal order that encourages development and cooperation at sea./.
