On April 8, Dr. Nguyen Dang Vu, Head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the central province of Quang Ngai said the province has completed a scientific dossier on the traditional ceremony commemorating the sailors of the Hoang Sa Flotilla to seek the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s recognition of it as an outstanding national intangible cultural heritage.

In order to foster and nurture the patriotism and the love for sea and islands in each people, particularly the young generation, the education and training sector of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has launched numerous movements looking towards Truong Sa archipelago, with a view to raising students’ awareness and national pride.

The Literature and Arts Association of central Quang Ngai province and the Ho Chi Minh City Photographic Artists’ Association on April 7 co-organised a photo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City to feature the land and people of central Quang Ngai province’s Ly Son island district, which is home to the Hoang Sa Flotilla.

From April 27- 29, Pham Van Dong University and the People’s Committee of central Quang Ngai province will co-organize an international seminar themed “National Sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes - Historical and Legal Aspects” in the province’s Ly Son island district.

As a representative of investors from Japan’s Kobe prefecture expressed a wish to assist fishermen in the central region by building thousands of high capacity fishing vessels, Nguyen Ba Thanh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs, has agreed and told them to be prompt to conduct necessary study to promote cooperation.

Justice is in the truth. As you know, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are part of the national territory that the generations of Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese State over periods have exploited and established sovereignty since the 17th century and maintained the sovereign right in a peaceful and continuous manner in accordance with international law. However, the Chinese State used force to illegally occupy Hoang Sa archipelago and repeatedly made illegal sovereignty claims…

As part of their working trip to the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and a Government delegation on April 6 visited officers and soldiers at the Dao San border post of the provincial Border Guards.

“Viet Nam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa Archipelago. Those actions by the Chinese side seriously violate the sovereignty of Viet Nam, go against the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Viet Nam and China and are not in line with DOC and the Declaration of ASEAN and China Summit commemorating the 10th anniversary of the DOC. These moves cause tensions and complicate the situation in the East Sea. We ask China to cease these wrongful actions and refrain from undermining peace and stability in the East Sea.”