17th International Conference on the East Sea: “Solidarity in uncertainty”

The conference was attended by nearly 50 speakers who are leading and prestigious experts in Vietnam , the region and internationally; more than 300 delegates, including 11 ambassadors from countries and territories; more than 200 delegates registered to attend online.

Mr. Nguyen Hung Son, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, said the annual international conference on the East Sea has become a center for promoting growth and connectivity, contributing to strengthening peace , stability and prosperity, not only in the East Sea but also in the maritime space at the regional and global levels.

In a world of seismic shifts, rapid fluctuations and uncertainty, further dialogue is urgently needed to enhance understanding, build trust, reduce risks and remove ambiguity from miscalculations or misunderstandings.

“The dialogue will contribute to strengthening common understanding of the “rules of the game” and codes of conduct, thereby connecting countries and communities in the region and the world,” said Mr. Nguyen Hung Son.

In his speech, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, highly appreciated the choice of the conference theme "Solidarity in uncertainty", reflecting the reality of the times, while also expressing common aspirations.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong said that today's world is facing global challenges such as conflicts and wars, and principles established after World War II such as multilateralism, compliance with international law, and cooperation for common interests are showing signs of being "eroded".

Asia-Pacific, the most dynamic region, is not immune to “uncertain winds” and the East Sea is a mirror reflecting regional and global fluctuations.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong also emphasized that amid uncertainty, there are still many opportunities for countries to affirm factors that promote cohesion, which are dialogue, cooperation and compliance with international law.

The Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that Vietnam is always consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; Vietnam upholds the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability, and upholds the central role of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam is committed to building trust and responsibly managing differences; and is ready to cooperate with all partners to ensure that common seas are seas of peace, stability, and prosperity.

Ms. Seema Malhotra, Minister in charge of the Indo-Pacific region, UK Foreign Office, assessed that the East Sea plays an important role for maritime trade, livelihoods and prosperity of the region, recent dangerous incidents in the East Sea have caused deep concern about the risk of escalating tensions in the region.

The UK opposes any aggressive actions or those that undermine international law, emphasizing that maritime zones in the East Sea must be determined and resolved peacefully, in compliance with UNCLOS; the UK always respects and appreciates ASEAN's central role in maintaining stability in the region.

In addition, the UK supports the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in which the COC must respect UNCLOS and reflect the legitimate interests of all parties.

The UK will also continue to demonstrate its commitment to peace and stability in the region and the South China Sea, maintaining its naval presence and enhancing cooperation with regional partners.

The 17th International Conference on the East Sea took place on November 3-4, focusing on discussions on developments in the East Sea, major power strategy and competition, development trends of marine technology, ASEAN's leadership role and the importance of UNCLOS for stability at sea.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/thoi-su/hoi-thao-quoc-te-ve-bien-dong-lan-thu-17-doan-ket-trong-bat-dinh-20251103162130495.htm