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| An overview of the conference. |
The event saw the participation of 220 delegates, including 89 international scholars, 31 delegates from 22 foreign representative offices in Vietnam, and nearly 100 Vietnamese scholars, delegates. It also attracted 110 reporters from 60 domestic and foreign news and television agencies.
The conference took place in 2 days with 8 discussions. Speakers evaluated developments in the South China Sea in the past decade, and discussed such issues as the importance of the South China Sea for the future, the impacts of current situations in the South China Sea on the relations of relating nations, claims of the disputing parties in the past decade, changes in views and policies of the great powers over the South China Sea, changes in the balance of power, and the assessment of risks that may lead to armed conflict in the area.
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highlighted the need to maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the South China Sea. This is the responsibility not only of the nations sharing the South China Sea but also of all the countries involved.
The workshop served as a forum for scholars to discuss, suggest appropriate mechanisms to maintain security, promote cooperation in the South China Sea as well as in a wider region, to ensure legitimate interests of all nations. They could propose equal, rational, sustainable solutions to the settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On behalf of leaders of Da Nang city, the host city of the event, Vice Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh expressed his hope that the delegates would frankly discuss the current situation of the South China Sea and propose initiatives to better control the situation, gradually build a peaceful region, promote friendship and cooperation, ensure security and safety for 300 million people living by the sea, contributing to peace and stability of the region.
