Co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Foundation for East Sea Studies,  and Vietnam Lawyers Association, the two-day event brought together more than 50 speakers and some 250 officials, scholars and diplomats of Vietnam and foreign countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said as the East Sea has the most important and busiest shipping routes in the world, security and safety of navigation in the waters are of great importance to the global trade and prosperity.

“Maintaining peace and stability and promoting cooperation in the East Sea are not only the interests and responsibilities of regional nations but also the interests and responsibilities of the whole international community. We should make initiatives to ensure the efficiency of the 1982 UNCLOS and the respect for law; to maintain the important role of multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and ASEAN in fostering regional cooperation. As the ASEAN Chair next year, Vietnam hopes to join efforts with partners to ensure efficient cooperation in the ASEAN to address maritime security challenges,” said Deputy FM Trung.

Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Nguyen Vu Tung said: "The Law of the Sea has been well interpreted following the Philippines’ lawsuit. Countries have clear legal foundation to protect their interests for regional cooperation. COC negotiation is a new step forward for new cooperation.”

The annual conference includes six plenary, six roundtable sessions, and a special session which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 UNCLOS which has been the bedrock of the rules-based order at sea over the past 25 years.