(VOVworld) – On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the liberation of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, many activities are underway on the islands and on marine defence platform DK 1. In Truong Sa, in addition to a meeting to mark the anniversary, several projects are inaugurated. The Naval Force hosted a commemoration of martyrs who died at sea in the areas of Gac Ma, Co Lin, Len Dao and DK1. The force paid tribute to martyrs who are buried on Truong Sa, visited Ho Chi Minh memorial house and monument of heroic martyrs.
 |
| Mainlanders bring gifts to soldiers stationed on Truong Sa islands |
From April to the middle of May, there have been many visits by mainlanders to Truong Sa to present gifts to islanders. During each trip, the Navy High Command disseminates information on the forces’ achievements and traditions, and introduces sea-related international laws, Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty, the history of island dedence.
On Saturday, an international seminar on the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos was held in the central city of Quang Ngai. The event was attended by more than 50 delegates including international scholars, overseas Vietnamese and leading experts from universities and research institutes in the US, Russia, Sweden, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. Addressing the opening ceremony, Associate. Professor, Dr Pham Dang Phuoc from Pham Van Dong University said: “This seminar aims to clarify the legal and historical foundation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. The seminar also focused on international laws on historical sovereignty and the disputes over the islands, as well as ways to resolve differences peacefully, and other current issues related to the East Sea”.
 |
| International seminar on the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos |
The seminar was held in Quang Ngai province, home to historical relics associated with the Vietnamese State’s management and development of the two archipelagos. Most of Vietnamese fishermen who catch fish in the East Sea come from Quang Ngai.
The liberation day of Truong Sa coincides with the Feast and Commemoration of Hoang Sa soldiers and the Quang Ngai sea and island culture week 2013. The Feast and Commemoration of Hoang Sa soldiers pays tribute to draftees, who died while defending Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago. Nguyen Dang Vu, Director of Quang Ngai provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “This seminar requires Quang Ngai to continue the collection and study of our cultural heritages in Chinese-transcribed Vietnamese. We need to continue restoration of relics related to Hoang Sa marine flotilla, other heritages preserved in the local clans which show Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos”.