A meeting to review the past year’s publicity about Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago took place in Da Nang on Monday. The event also provided an opportunity for historical witnesses who used to live and work on the islands to meet each other. 

The event aimed to mark the 41 years of China’s illegal military occupation of the archipelago (on 19 January 1974).

Last year saw a more complicated and tense situation in the Bien Dong (East Sea), especially China’s illegal action of positioning the HD-981 oil drilling rig, escorted by a large number of vessels, in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. 

Visitors at an exhibition on the Hoang Sa archipelago

The city gained positive results from raising public awareness of the national sovereignty over the archipelago.

In the spotlight were exhibitions, entitled “Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos of Viet Nam - Historical Evidence”, which were opened in 16 localities nationwide.  These events were jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Hoang Sa District People’s Committee (PC), and the city’s Socio-Economic Development Research Institute.  The exhibitions drew a great deal of attention from the public and over 80% of the exhibits on display were sourced from the Hoang Sa District.

Also last year, 3 international seminars on the Bien Dong took place in Da Nang.  In addition, a meaningful writing contest about the beloved Hoang Sa archipelago ran from October to November 2014. 

The great success of the above-mentioned activities clearly shows that Da Nang is a pioneer in promoting Viet Nam’s unceasing righteous struggle for its legitimate sovereignty over the Hoang Sa islands.

In 2015, the Hoang Sa District PC will make greater efforts to promote the State’s management of publicity activities about Viet Nam’s sacred sovereignty over the 2 archipelagos.  A focus will be on officially starting the construction of the Hoang Sa Exhibition House on Hoang Sa Street on 30 April to mark the 40th anniversary of national reunification. 

In addition, teaching materials about Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago will be used in the city’s primary, junior and senior high schools this year. 

Special heed will be paid to collecting more valuable documents re-affirming Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the archipelago and then displaying them in local exhibitions.