On October 23-24, 2024, the Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs attended the 16th International Scientific Conference on the South China Sea. The event was organized in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in collaboration with relevant agencies under the theme “Shaping Minds, Harnessing Norms.”
The conference brought together nearly 50 esteemed speakers from 23 countries and international organizations, along with nearly 100 delegates from foreign representative agencies in Vietnam, including 22 ambassadors. The event featured seven sessions on diverse topics and two keynote sessions, with significant presentations by Judge Horinouchi Hidehisa of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and high-ranking officials from various countries, such as Ms. Catherine West, Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Australian Member of Parliament Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Scott Millar, Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy at the Canadian Department of National Defence; Mr. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Director General for ASEAN Cooperation and ASEAN SOM Leader of Indonesia; and Mr. Niclas Kvarnström, Head of the Asia-Pacific Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Many journalists from domestic and international media outlets attended and reported on the conference.
Delegates at the Conference
In her opening remarks, Dr. Pham Lan Dung, Acting Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, shared that the organizing committee aims to convey a message about the mission of protecting the invaluable assets of peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the South China Sea while demonstrating the determination to find sustainable solutions for the region. Despite years of discussions, the South China Sea remains a hotspot, with territorial disputes, conflicting maritime claims, and ongoing militarization in the area.
At the opening session, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet delivered a speech, emphasizing that the world is at a significant crossroads. He noted the unpredictable and surprising transitions toward a multipolar, multi-centered order, which, if poorly managed, could lead to catastrophic consequences. He highlighted the growing erosion of trust in existing institutions and rules, with unilateral actions gaining dominance at the expense of legitimate interests of parties and the international community. Deputy Minister Do warned that this trend diminishes opportunities for dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation while encouraging arms races and deterrence measures as central strategies for many nations.
The Deputy Minister stated that today’s competition among major powers is not merely about territorial or maritime claims or resources, but more importantly about controlling perspectives and visions that will shape the future international order. He praised the conference's theme, “Shaping Minds, Harnessing Norms,” as both timely and essential. He stressed the importance of adhering to widely recognized principles and norms, which form the foundation for ensuring international peace and stability, and provide a common framework for nations to resolve disputes peacefully and cooperate. Additionally, the Deputy Minister announced Vietnam's nomination of its first candidate for a judge position at ITLOS for the 2026-2035 term, reaffirming Vietnam's willingness to contribute to ITLOS activities and its strong commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Charter, and international law.
This year, alongside the main conference, the organizing committee continued the Young Leaders Program to identify and engage the next generation of researchers on South China Sea issues. The program included a special session on Youth and Maritime Security. For the first time, an ASEAN Roundtable was also held, connecting leading Southeast Asian experts to discuss opportunities for promoting regional cooperation.