Many delegates to an international seminar in Seoul on October 23 agreed that Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence of its sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracels) archipelagoes.

Professor Ahn Kyong-hwan from Chosun University noted that it has been proved clearly in terms of history that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa were effectively governed by Vietnam.

In his opinion, the peaceful settlement of the East Sea territorial dispute is very important to maintaining world peace and promoting regional economic development.

However, it will be difficult to solve the issue of sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa through Vietnam ’s efforts, he said, stressing that it requires understanding and sympathy of the international community.

Therefore, the professor said the organisations of periodical seminars on the issue to share documents and seek peaceful solutions with the participation of scientists from Vietnam, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia is of great significance.

In his presentation, Dr. Isabel also from Chosun University said based on international law, reality and historical evidence, it is Vietnam, not any other country, which has effectively owned Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.

The scholar noted that since the 17th century, Vietnam has exercised its sovereignty over the two archipelagoes continuously and peacefully. The country has also ensured its legitimate position and interests to encounter schemes and acts violating its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Professor of Vietnamese studies Lee Yun-boem, Chungwoon University, highlighted the solutions that Vietnam has been undertaking with the aim to solve the territorial dispute in the East Sea.

For his part, Associate Professor and Dr Le Dinh Chinh, of the Social Sciences and Humanity University under the Hanoi National University stressed that with its peaceful foreign policies and as an ASEAN official member, Vietnam has continued to abide by the commitments in the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while calling on concerned parties to follow these commitments.

The DOC is really important to the maintenance of peace and stability in the East Sea . Both ASE AN and China will benefit from the respect for and full implementation of the declaration, which also meets the aspiration of people in the region and the world for a peaceful, friendship and cooperative East Sea, he said.

The international seminar on the East Sea was jointly held by RoK Chosun University and Vietnam’s Hanoi National University.-VNA