The 11th South China Sea (East Sea) International Conference was wrapped up in Hanoi on November 7.
Reports delivered by delegates underlined the increasing geostrategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region in history, economy, politics, and social affairs.
In the current context, countries in the region are sharing a number of common interests on security and economic development. According to the participants, all parties should seriously abide by international law, ensure maritime safety and freedom, and expand multifaceted coordination.
As for regional cooperation, they should pay due attention to bilateral and multilateral channels, especially ASEAN-chaired mechanisms.
In addition, the delegates held that regional nations have more cooperation opportunities in the East Sea and on other high seas. On the other hand, they voiced concerns over disputes at sea.
In his closing speech, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) Nguyễn Vũ Tùng emphasized the necessity to build a regional order on the basis of international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982). He also noted the role of multilateralism, which consists of the ASEAN-centered regional architecture while witnessing the growing competition among world powers.
The professor believes that regional countries and their partners should join hands to map out approaches to regional order and security, but not be stakeholders in the East Sea issue.
The 11th South China Sea International Conference, themed “Cooperation for regional security and development,” took place in Hanoi on November 6 and 7. It was co-organized by the DAV, the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) and the Vietnam Lawyers Association (VLA). The event summoned more than 50 speakers and some 250 officials, scholars, and diplomats from Vietnam and the international community.
Source: en.qdnd.vn
