The conference was jointly organized by the Vietnam Historical Science Association, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Education - Da Nang University.
According to the Organizing Committee, the First National Historical Conference was held to summarize the achievements of research on national territorial sovereignty using a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history, contributing to serving strategies for national construction and defense in the new context.
The organization of the first National Historical Conference will establish a precedent for periodically rotating the conference with different themes at major historical training and research institutions across the country, meeting the requirements of science and social practice in Vietnam.
"The territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland is sacred."In his opening remarks, the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, emphasized that independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity are sacred and essential for the survival of every nation and every people. Having gone through thousands of years of ups and downs in the process of building, preserving, and developing the country, the communities living in Vietnam today understand and cherish the value of independence, peace, national unity, and territorial integrity.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi
In recent years, the regional and global situation has become increasingly complex, including territorial disputes, posing risks of conflict and instability. Therefore, actively researching to provide solid scientific arguments and proposing practical solutions is all the more significant as an important measure to contribute to protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Exactly 10 years ago, in April 2014, in Ho Chi Minh City, Professor Phan Huy Le, People's Teacher and Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, launched a nationwide campaign to encourage historians to intensify research on Vietnam's national sovereignty over its territory and maritime areas. Over the past 10 years, this topic has been the focus of research by historians nationwide, achieving many outstanding results.
Conference Organizing Committee
Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong
In his introductory report, the Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, stated that national sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacred values of every country and every ethnic community throughout history since the emergence of the state. For the Vietnamese people, independence, freedom, and national sovereignty and territorial integrity have been a fervent aspiration and a powerful driving force, uniting the entire nation to achieve these lofty goals.
In recent decades, amidst the complexities of the global and regional situation, the entire Party, army, and people of Vietnam have demonstrated their determination to firmly defend national independence and sovereignty. We affirm Vietnam's correct policy of attaching utmost importance to maintaining peace and stability for the country and the region, persistently using diplomatic and political solutions to resolve disagreements between nations on the basis of international law, respecting the sovereignty of each country, including Vietnam.
At the same time, it affirms national sovereignty as the right to self-determination over the nation, an inseparable political and legal attribute, something that was affirmed in the first Constitution of Vietnam, adopted in 1946, and further developed in the 2013 Constitution: "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent, sovereign, unified and territorially integral country, encompassing the mainland, islands, sea areas and airspace" (Article 1, Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).
Over the past decade, as regional issues concerning national sovereignty have emerged, the Vietnam Historical Science Association, specifically Professor, People's Teacher, and Chairman Phan Huy Le, has issued a "Call to Action" urging scientists in general, and especially members of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, to intensify research contributing to the protection of Vietnam's maritime sovereignty, islands, and territorial integrity in the past, present, and future, following a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history.
Firmly protect national sovereignty and territorial borders.
The first National Historical Conference focused on discussing three main topics: Some general issues concerning territorial sovereignty and land borders; the East Sea - the living space of communities residing in Vietnamese territory; and Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
At the conference, researchers, scholars, and experts in the field of history listened to presentations, made recommendations, and proposed measures to promote research on Vietnam's national sovereignty and territory, as well as measures to preserve and promote historical heritage, foster patriotic and revolutionary traditions, and enhance national pride among all segments of the population.
Dr. Tran Cong Truc, former Head of the Government's Border Committee, delivered a presentation.
Presenting his paper "National Territory and National Borders: Some Theoretical and Practical Issues," former Head of the Government Border Committee, Dr. Tran Cong Truc, stated: "Vietnam's territory in the East Sea, including the sea areas and continental shelf and geographical features (archipelagos, islands, rocks, shoals...), has been established and protected not only by current legal principles but also by the blood, bones, sweat, and tears of countless generations of Vietnamese people throughout the ups and downs of history."
Vietnam's objective is not only to protect its legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea, but also to contribute to maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and prosperous environment in the region and the world, especially in the current international context.
The press reported on the event:
People's Television:First National Conference on History
National Assembly Television: First National Conference on History
People's Representatives Newspaper: Researching national and territorial sovereignty from a comprehensive historical perspective of Vietnam.
Nhan Dan Newspaper:Research and propose solutions to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vietnam National University, Hanoi: Research on national and territorial sovereignty from a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history.
Foreign Affairs Portal: National and territorial sovereignty based on a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history.
People's Army Newspaper:First National Historical Conference on National Territorial Sovereignty
VOV2: From a historical approach to the study of national and territorial sovereignty.
Journal of Science and Technology:Research on national and territorial sovereignty from a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history.
Saigon Liberation Newspaper:National sovereignty and territory - sacred values.
Vietnam Business Magazine: National Historical Conference: A Comprehensive Approach to the History of National Sovereignty
Women's Magazine: National Historical Conference: A Comprehensive Approach to the History of National Sovereignty
