17th International Scientific Conference on the South China Sea

On November 3rd, the 17th International Scientific Conference on the South China Sea, themed "Unity in Uncertainty," jointly organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and its partner agencies, opened in Da Nang city.

Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, delivered the opening remarks at the conference.

The workshop was attended by Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Associate Professor, Dr. Le Hai Binh, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and nearly 50 speakers who are leading and reputable experts in Vietnam, the region and internationally; more than 300 delegates, including 11 Ambassadors, from nearly 40 countries and territories; and more than 200 delegates who registered to attend online.

Opening the conference, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, stated that the annual international conference on the South China Sea, after 16 years of organization, has become a center for promoting growth and connectivity, contributing to consolidating peace, stability, and prosperity, not only in the South China Sea but also in the maritime space at the regional and global levels.

In today's world , amidst seismic shifts, rapid changes, and uncertainty, promoting dialogue is crucial to enhance understanding, build trust, mitigate risks, and eliminate ambiguity stemming from miscalculations or misunderstandings. Dialogue contributes to strengthening shared understanding of the "rules of the game" and codes of conduct, thereby fostering closer ties between nations and communities in the region and around the world.

Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech at the seminar.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, highly appreciated the choice of this year's conference theme: "Solidarity in Uncertainty," which reflects the reality of the times and also expresses a shared aspiration.

The Deputy Minister stated that today's world is more "fragile" than ever, with global challenges such as conflict and war emerging. Principles established after World War II, such as multilateralism, adherence to international law, and cooperation for mutual benefit, are showing signs of "erosion." The Asia-Pacific region, once the most dynamic, is not immune to "unpredictable winds," and the South China Sea reflects the fluctuations of the region and the globe.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong emphasized that amidst uncertainty, many opportunities remain for nations to affirm the factors that promote cohesion, namely dialogue, cooperation, and adherence to international law. He affirmed Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development. Vietnam highly values ​​the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability, while also highlighting the central role of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam is committed to peacefully resolving disputes, building trust, and responsibly managing differences; and is ready to cooperate with all partners to ensure that shared seas are peaceful, stable, and prosperous. Vietnam is proud to be one of the first 60 countries to ratify the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), demonstrating its enduring commitment to international law and multilateralism.

International delegates exchange views on the sidelines of the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Seema Malhotra, Undersecretary for the Indo-Pacific region at the UK Foreign Office and Undersecretary for Education, welcomed the upgraded relationship between Vietnam and the UK and stated that the UK-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will open up new opportunities for cooperation, including maritime security cooperation, affirming the UK's long-standing commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, supporting peace, prosperity, regional stability, and international principles.

Seema Malhotra assessed that the South China Sea plays a crucial role in the region's maritime trade, livelihoods, and prosperity, and recent dangerous incidents in the South China Sea raise deep concerns about the risk of escalating tensions in the region. The UK opposes aggressive actions or actions that undermine international law, emphasizing that maritime areas in the South China Sea must be defined and resolved peacefully, in accordance with UNCLOS. The UK respects and appreciates ASEAN's central role in maintaining regional stability; continues to support the ASEAN Vision on the Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Maritime Vision; and supports the negotiation process for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), which must respect UNCLOS and reflect the legitimate interests of all parties. The UK will continue to demonstrate its commitment to regional peace and stability and the South China Sea, maintaining its naval presence and strengthening cooperation with regional partners.

Delegates attending the workshop.

The 17th International Conference on the South China Sea, held over two days from November 3-4, focused on discussing the evolving situation in the South China Sea, great power strategies and competition, trends in maritime technology development, ASEAN's leadership role, and the importance of UNCLOS for maritime stability.

A new feature of this year's conference is the Q&A session between Ambassadors of various countries in Vietnam, discussing shared responsibility for peace. Alongside the conference, the Young Leaders Program continues to bring the new vitality of the next generation in research on the situation in the South China Sea with a special session titled "The Power of the Young Generation: Strengthening Unity, Overcoming Uncertainty".

This year's conference is being held in Da Nang, one of Vietnam's dynamic and strategically located coastal cities. It also provides an opportunity to promote the city's image and potential, and to reaffirm Da Nang's support and commitment to efforts to promote international cooperation, protect maritime sovereignty, and develop the marine economy.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/hoi-thao-khoa-hoc-quoc-te-ve-bien-dong-lan-thu-17-20251103132910017.htm