First Vietnamese elected to ILC

Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, Second Vice Chairman of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC)

The UN International Law Commission (ILC) is one of the UN’s most important legal organizations. Dr. Thao’s election as ILC’s Vice Chairman is an acknowledgement of his contributions to the Commission.

Mr. Thao said “I want to share my knowledge and Vietnam’s law practices with other countries to build common legal principles and settle arising problems of international law. I hope to make an international contribution which will impact all countries.”

Inpiduals nominated to the Commission should be legal experts with notable contributions to international law. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs nominated Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao to the UN International Law Commission because Mr. Thao is a senior diplomat and expert on international public law, environmental and maritime law, and border demarcation. He has participated in many negotiations on territorial borders and had his books and articles on international law published.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said “We have taken into consideration Doctor Thao’s ability, experience, and academic qualification. He studied in the former Soviet Union and France. He has done research and lectured on international law, and has 40 years of experience in law-related areas, having assumed many important diplomatic positions.”

Members of the ILC at the 70th meeting in Geneva (Photo: VNA)

When being the Vice Chairman of the National Border Committee, Mr. Thao played a major role in negotiations for completing land border marker planting with China, Lao, and Cambodia. As a law researcher, he put forward a number of proposals at forums and conferences on the East Sea.

Since he was a member of the UN International Law Commission, and now Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Thao has actively participated in ILC’s studies of global issues such as cyber crime, benevolent use of nuclear power, anti-terrorism, and the peaceful settlement of cross-border disputes. He has introduced Vietnam’s consistent stance of law-based international relations.

Mr. Thao said “All international legal and jurisdictional organizations follow the rule of law. Vietnam’s membership of the UN International Law Commission shows our country’s confidence and ability to take on international responsibility.”

Vietnam has accelerated global economic, cultural, social, and legal integration. Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, the first Vietnamese official representing Vietnam and ASEAN to hold a leadership position in the ILC, shows international acknowledgement of Vietnam’s role in global issues.