WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Defend the sovereignty
International seminar to ensure environmental security in East Sea​
By Tuan Minh 08:34, 2016/10/15
About 150 domestic and foreign scientists and scholars yesterday gathered at an international seminar in the port city of Hai Phong to seek solutions to ensure the environmental and maritime security for a blue East Sea.
 
Vice Chairman of Hai Phong People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Binh delivered speech at the seminar
Vice Chairman of Hai Phong People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Binh delivered speech at the seminar
The two-day event focuses on three major topics – environmental security of the East Sea under the judgment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), security of navigation and overflight in the East Sea under the PCA ruling, and initiatives and solution for a blue East Sea. 

Leading scientists in the field, including Dr. John W. McManus from Rosenstiel School at the US’ Miami University, and Dr. Masanori Muto from Mitsubishi Research Institute, discussed a number of issues including lessons in managing a sea of peace and sustainability in Southeast Asia. 

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Binh said that the East Sea plays a significant role in regional countries as well as the international community. Along with its value in science and environment, the sea is important to the development of countries in the region and the world, said Binh. 

He noted that over the past years, many regional states have made efforts through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanism to seek solutions to the maintenance of peace and stability as well as the protection of the ecosystem in the East Sea. 

However, the East Sea is facing a number of challenges in environment degradation and the decline of resources, along with problems in security of navigation and overflight, stated Binh. He also expressed his hope that experiences and initiatives shared during the seminar will help relevant parties to strengthen cooperation in the work.

He affirmed that Hai Phong, the third largest city of Vietnam and the largest gateway to the ocean in the country’s northern region, is working hard to build a modern city, while raising the public awareness of the responsibility to protect the maritime environment, joining hands with the international community to promote a blue East Sea. 
 
New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee
New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee
** The same day, New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee expressed his support to arbitral process at the seventh Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, saying that the reclamation, construction and militarisation in the East Sea is to blame for escalating tension.

The seventh Xiangshan Forum, co-hosted by the Chinese Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, officially opened in Beijing.

Themed “Build a New Type of International Relations through Security Dialogue and Cooperation”, this year’s event attracts nearly 400 military officials and specialists from around the globe. It focuses on responding to new security challenges in Asia-Pacific through cooperation, role of militaries in global governance, maritime security cooperation, and international terrorist threats and countermeasures.

Expressing concern over the East Sea issue, Brownlee stressed that New Zealand opposes actions that undermine peace and erode trust, and would like to see all parties actively take steps to reduce those tensions. "As a small maritime trading nation, international law and, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is important for New Zealand”, he said, adding that he believes countries have the right to seek international resolution such as arbitral process.

This isn't the first time New Zealand has raised its voice on the East Sea issue. According to Reuters, in February, New Zealand urged for Chinese restraint after Beijing's apparent deployment of an advanced missile system on an East Sea island, while Beijing said New Zealand's proposal is unconstructive.
Other news
17:10, 2024/10/25
Hanoi students honored for creative logo celebrating German-Vietnamese ties
The red, yellow and black logo designed by two students from Hanoi has won the logo design competition to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam.
10:44, 2024/10/06
Vietnam condemns violence by Chinese authorities in Hoang Sa
Vietnam expresses its discontent and vehement objection to the brutal actions of Chinese law enforcement authorities in the Hoang Sa archipelago, which have resulted in Vietnamese fishermen being injured, their lives threatened and their property damaged.
19:03, 2024/09/14
Hanoi set to pilot centralized government services
The centralized building and those of its branches for government services would be equipped with the latest facilities and technologies.
15:15, 2024/09/02
Vietnam National Day: Insights from expats
Vietnam’s glorious history and national pride on National Day has captivated international friends in Hanoi.
18:28, 2024/08/01
Musical featuring the Spratlys to be aired
The musical shows the moving picture of the marines, who always hold their rifles firmly, ready to fulfill the mission of protecting the sacred sea and the islands of the Motherland.
17:19, 2024/07/19
Countries recognize Vietnam’s right to claim extended continental shelf in UN submission
In a note verbal to the UN Secretary-General on its extended continental shelf claim, Vietnam reiterated that it has no bearing on the maritime delimitation between the country and its neighboring states.