The German Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, in partnership with the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law (MPFPR), launched a series of workshops on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on Tuesday. The event marks the beginning of Germany’s main contribution to the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Brunei.
German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Gerda Winkler welcomed ASEAN member state participants, including representatives from Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat, to the first workshop of a two-part series funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Ambassador Winkler highlighted the shared commitment of Germany and ASEAN to the principles of international law as embodied in UNCLOS, emphasising Germany’s dedication to promoting a rules-based international order and fostering regional integration within ASEAN.
The workshop series focuses on the three implementing agreements under UNCLOS: Deep seabed mining regime, conservation of transboundary fish stocks and the 2023 Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Germany has actively supported these agreements, advocating for precautionary measures in resource exploration, fishery management and the rapid ratification of the BBNJ Agreement.
Ambassador Winkler expressed gratitude to the MPFPR, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers for the support in facilitating the workshops. The initiative, will involve participation from relevant Bruneian agencies in the second session on November 2, further strengthening Brunei-Germany relations in international legal cooperation. – Fadley Faisal
