Foreign organizations and individuals would likely be permitted to conduct scientific research in the Vietnam’s sea areas, if a decree drafted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is approved.
According to the 30-article draft, the licensing of scientific research activities by foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam’s sea areas would take either of the two forms: grant of scientific research license and grant of written approval of scientific research.
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| Drilling rigs of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group__Photo: Huy Hung/VNA |
Specifically, scientific research licenses would be granted to those conducting scientific researches within Vietnam’s internal waters or territorial seas, while those carrying research activities in the country’s exclusive economic zones and continental shelf would be granted written approvals.
A license or written approval would be valid for two years at most and may be extended once for one year.
Foreign organizations’ and individuals’ applications to conduct scientific research in Vietnam’s sea areas would be rejected if their scientific research activities are not for peaceful purposes, affecting the country’s sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction; seriously affect baseline surveys, scientific researches and mineral resource exploration and exploitation which are being carried out lawfully in Vietnam’s sea areas; involve the use of explosives, toxic chemicals or other equipment which may cause harms to humans, natural resources and the environment; or are carried out together with the construction of artificial islands or offshore facilities.
Particularly, foreign organizations and individuals that wish to conduct scientific research activities involving seabed drilling would be required to cooperate with Vietnamese partners.- (VLLF)
