National sovereignty in the East Sea issue, which is drawing much attention from Party members and people, is sacred and the country’s supreme interest, said Hoang Binh Quan, the head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

Mr. Hoang Binh Quan.

Talking to the media on the sidelines of the ongoing 12th National Party Congress on January 23, Quan, who is member of the 11th Party Central Committee, said that the difference between parties which are involving in disputes in the East Sea, including Vietnam and China, is a fact.

As such, for many years, countries involved have made various efforts to address the issue by legal and historical foundations, and by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Vietnam has full legal foundations to confirm sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. However, the country is still consistent in dealing with the issue by peaceful means on the basis of international law, as this will ensure regional stability and development, he stated.

The official went on to say that Vietnam opposes the use of violence, or threats of violence and calls on nations, including China, to respect international law and consider the legitimate interests of coastal countries in handling the issue.

He also emphasised the importance of the voice of the international community, as it reflects nations’ responsibility for the stability of a region.

The stability, navigational freedom, and maritime security and safety in the region bring about benefits not only for coastal nations, but also many others in the world, he affirmed.

VNA