Int’l conference on East Sea promotes mutual understanding: experts
The international conference on the East Sea, which was held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on October 25-26, plays an important role in promoting international community’s joint efforts to maintaining peace, prosperity and sustainable development in the East Sea, according to experts.
HCM City (VNA) – The international conference on the East Sea,which was held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on October 25-26, plays animportant role in promoting international community’s joint efforts tomaintaining peace, prosperity and sustainable development in the East Sea, accordingto experts.
Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at the Australian Defence Force Academy toldthe Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the conference that Vietnam has tailored the conferencesincreasingly to focus on issues of concern to the international community, andthe conferences help participants learn more and go deeper into various issues inthe waters.
Meanwhile, Professor Rober Beckman from theNational University of Singapore’s Centre for International Law described theconference as useful and interesting with a lot of important discussions held.
Delegates,especially those from Europe and outside Southeast Asia, all want to gain better understanding about thedifficulties and challenges with respect to the East Sea dispute.
With a view to luminating the grey zone and lighting up the blue, he said itwill be useful to continue to have discussions about the grey zone, and have people analyse not only what’s happening in Southeast Asia, but also what’s happingin other parts of Asia.
Earlier, in his opening remarks at the conference, Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs Do Hung Viet said the East SeaConference series has provided an open, candid, friendly environment for regionaland international experts to come together to advance mutual understanding, andnarrow differences.
The official said he hopes that in the next 15years, the dialogue will further evolve into a key region-wide maritimesecurity forum, one that is open, inclusive and innovative in nature, a meetingpoint and hub of interests spanning from the “Indo” to the “Pacific” and beyond.
The conference has contributed to promoting transparency, building a network ofexperts, and creating a platform to discuss regional issues.
Only maritime cooperation can help countries change the East Sea from grey toblue towards peace and sustainable development, he said, adding it is necessaryto strictly follow international laws, including 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS)./.
The 15th East Sea International Conference themed “Luminate the Grey, Light Up the Green” opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, with more than 200 delegates attending in person while nearly 250 others participate via teleconferencing.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s centrality in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region was highlighted at the 15th East Sea International Conference that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25.
The annual international conference on the East Sea held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, now entering the 15th year, (DAV) has become an indispensable forum for all those who are interested in maintaining peace, stability and development in the East Sea, according to DAV Deputy Director Dr. Nguyen Hung Son.
The 15th international conference on the East Sea wrapped up in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26, with four discussion sessions and a keynote speech on the second sitting.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer (Photo: VNA) 
