Delegates to the conference were provided with basic information about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Vietnam’s territorial waters and islands, and the country’s jurisdiction over its sea and islands, including the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

They were also informed of the country’s struggle to safeguard its legal sovereignty and legitimate rights; creating a legal framework for territorial waters; demarcating overlapping waters between Vietnam and its neighbours; and preparing and submitting national reports that define the boundaries of Vietnam’s continental shelf.

Vietnam has always abided by the international laws concerning sovereignty and islands in the East Sea. Since the 17^th century, the Vietnamese state has exercised its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos peacefully. In the past, the country regularly sent fleets to these islands to survey and draw maps of them.

Addressing the conference, Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, said that the event helped raise the level of knowledge on the issue among major local cadres and foil distortions made by hostile forces.

Quang Nam has 125km of coastline with six coastal districts.