On October 23, the 16th International Conference on the East Sea, themed "Fostering Cooperation, Upholding Standards," was officially opened in Quang Ninh. The event is co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and various partner organizations.

The conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, nearly 300 in-person participants, and over 250 registered online attendees.

The event gathered nearly 50 speakers, including reputable experts from 23 countries and international organizations, and around 100 representatives from foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam, along with 22 ambassadors.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet praised the theme "Fostering Cooperation, Upholding Standards," noting its relevance and urgency regarding maritime issues, including the East Sea. He emphasized that adherence to widely recognized principles and standards is the foundation for ensuring international peace and stability, as well as a common framework for nations to resolve disputes peacefully and cooperatively.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted Vietnam's readiness to contribute to the activities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and reaffirmed Vietnam's strong and consistent commitment to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Charter, and international law as a whole.

The 16th International Conference on the East Sea is held over two days, October 23-24, featuring seven sessions covering diverse topics and two keynote discussions. The event includes significant presentations from esteemed experts and leaders from various nations.

This year, the organizers continued the Young Leaders Program, aiming to discover emerging talents and the next generation of researchers on East Sea issues. A special session focused on youth and maritime security was also held.

Notably, for the first time, the conference featured an ASEAN roundtable designed to connect leading experts from Southeast Asia to discuss opportunities for enhancing regional cooperation.

Pham Cong