Vietnam Urges Global Cooperation on Natural Resource Governance for Peace and Security

Vietnam has called for enhanced international cooperation on natural resource governance, emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining peace and security. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung reiterated the importance of adhering to international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea (South China Sea). During ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings and related events, Minister Trung urged parties concerned to exercise restraint, respect the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. This reflects Vietnam's concerns regarding increased activities in the South China Sea. Vietnam expects parties to accelerate the development of an effective COC consistent with international law for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. Vietnam also highlighted the importance of ASEAN+3 (Japan, China, South Korea) and cooperation with the UK and the US as strategic platforms for deepening regional economic integration, strengthening resilience, and building a peaceful and prosperous future for the region. Furthermore, Vietnam expressed its commitment to building a sustainable blue economy through increased energy cooperation, pooled financial resources, and crackdowns on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Domestically, efforts are underway to improve state management in the natural resources and environment sector, including leveraging science and technology, particularly next-generation gene sequencing technologies to enhance the identification of remains of fallen soldiers. The Party Central Committee has also discussed proposals concerning the transfer of responsibilities for mass mobilization work and the renaming of the Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, indicating ongoing efforts to refine domestic governance structures. Vietnam recognizes that sustainable natural resource management directly contributes not only to economic growth but also to regional and international peace and stability, and is committed to strengthening international cooperation frameworks.