On Monday, leaders of district-level publicity and training departments and farmers' associations from 17 coastal wards around Da Nang attended a training course in the city about Viet Nam’s sea and islands.

At the event, the participants were introduced to the international and Vietnamese laws about borders, seas, islands, maritime boundary delimitations, the current East Sea situation, and the country’s policies about its sea and islands.  In particular, the impacts of the Philippines' lawsuit against China and Da Nang's sovereignty enforcement over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago were discussed.  Also, the government decree No 71/2015/ND-CP relating to the State management of the operation of fishermen and the boats involved in fishing in Viet Nam’s sea border area, and the policies at central and municipal levels for fisheries development, were presented at the event.

A fisherman making preparations for an offshore trip

The course had been jointly organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the city’s the Border Guard High Command, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Hoang Sa Islands District People’s Committee, and the Historical Science Association.  Its intention was to provide the participants with knowledge about the national sea and islands in order for them to then disseminate it to local residents.