Phu Tho hosts exhibition on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa

Visitors to the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

Phu Tho (VNA) – An exhibition displaying maps and documents on Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos opened in the northern province of Phu Tho on November 17.

The event, which runs until November 22, was co-organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the People’s Committee of Phu Tho province.

At the opening, Deputy Minister of the MIC Hoang Vinh Bao said the event is part of important activities to raise awareness of the country’s sea and islands among local people, especially youths.

It is also designed to nurture people’s love for the nation and enhance their solidarity and responsibility in protecting Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The event is organised annually across the country to affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelagos through historical documents. To date, a total of 97 exhibitions have been held in 63 localities, 11 island locations and districts, and 22 military units of Vietnam.

On display are documents, items, publications and nearly 100 maps published by domestic and international researchers and scholars, including materials in Chinese, Nom (old Vietnamese writing using Chinese characters), modern Vietnamese and French issued from the 17th to the 20th century by the Vietnamese feudal states and the French government in Indochina (on behalf of the then Vietnamese state) proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos as well as the country’s exercise of sovereignty over the islands.

The exhibition also features 65 maps certifying that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos belong to Vietnam, published by Western nations and Vietnam since the 17th century.

Photos depicting activities of soldiers and people on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands, and contributions of the provincial Party Organisation and local residents to the country’s seas and islands have been also displayed.

After the event, all the exhibits will be presented to the provincial People’s Committee for further display.-VNA