VietNamNet Bridge – An international seminar spotlighting Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes will take place from April 27-29 in Ly Son island District, home to the Hoang Sa Flotilla, which safeguarded the two archipelagoes hundreds of years ago.

The event will see the participation of about 50 international and Vietnamese overseas scholars, and local lawyers, researchers, and representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, and localities, according to the organisers.

It will touch on an array of issues regarding regulations of international laws on historical sovereignty, and methods to establish boundary delimitation and territorial sovereignty which have widely been recognised by international law, the Hanoi-run newspaper Hanoi Moi reported on April 22.

The seminar will come up with legal and historical evidence and documents proving Vietnam’s continuous exercise of sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in a peaceful manner in line with international law.

In addition, the three-day event will also give time for discussions on peaceful settlement of territorial disputes in the two archipelagoes as well as other current issues related to the East Sea.

The seminar, organised by the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee and the local University of Pham Van Dong, coincides with “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” (Hoang Sa Soldier Feast and Commemoration Festival) in the province from April 25-29.

“Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” is a traditional ceremony which has been observed through hundreds of years by families in Ly Son Island to pay tribute to local men enlisted in the Hoang Sa Flotilla to patrol the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes to mine natural resources and defend the national island sovereignty.

Source: Vietnam Plus