The conference was jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Academy of Politics Region III, and the Viet Nam People’s Navy. It aimed to review the practical experience of safeguarding Viet Nam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands throughout the 40 years of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, and to propose feasible orientations and solutions for the future.
In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr Duong Trung Y, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, emphasised that since 1986, Viet Nam has preserved intact and firmly defended its national sovereignty over seas and islands in the East Sea/South China Sea, together with the country’s legitimate and lawful interests.
He noted that Viet Nam’s role and position as a maritime nation have been steadily strengthened, enabling the country to participate proactively and responsibly in addressing international and regional issues concerning the sea and oceans.
Communication and educational activities have been intensified to raise public awareness of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands, while conveying the country’s message of peace to the world.
At the same time, efforts have been made to popularise the Party’s and State’s guidelines and policies on resolving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means, in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The symposium featured 57 papers from scholars, focusing on the Party’s and State’s guidelines, policies, and legal frameworks for protecting sovereignty over Viet Nam’s seas and islands, as well as approaches to resolving disputes and disagreements at sea.
Participants also put forward orientations and policies aimed at firmly safeguarding sovereignty and national interests in the East Sea, while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development in the new context.
