Sea, islands sovereignty integral to growth

Authorities have called for stronger communication to raise public awareness, especially among fishermen, of the role of Vietnam ’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in sea and islands socio-economic development.
Nguyen Bac Son, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s and Education Commission, reiterated the need for communication at a workshop held in Ly Son island district, in Quang Ngai province on April 27.
Son, also a member of the Party Central Committee, hailed progress made by the Quang Ngai administration in communicating the national strategy on sea and islands on a large scale, down to the grassroots level.
Ly Son island citizens have contributed to defending sea and island security and collecting a number of invaluable documents regarding Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, which were handed over to responsible agencies, he said.
Quang Ngai runs along 130 km of the central coastline with six river gateways and two major seaports, namely Dung Quat and Sa Ky.
The province, comprised of one island district some 17 nautical miles away from land and five coastal districts, nets an annual catch of between 85,000 and 90,000 tonnes of fish. The favourite fish beds are off Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and several other coastal provinces.
Mass media agencies based in the province have put coverage of sea and island sovereignty as top priority, publishing a number of news items, journals, stories and photos regarding this topic on the regular basis.
Provincial newspapers, radio and television publish and broadcast weekly columns and programmes presenting the positions and roles played by the national seawaters and islands as well as national policies and programmes on economic development integrated with defence of sea and island sovereignty.
Participants at the workshop asked relevant agencies, especially the Popularisation and Education Commission and the National Border Committee, to regularly provide updates on relevant developments and latest policies.
They also called for an increase in investment in coastal infrastructure and facilities for Ly Son island district.
An early decision to upgrade the Hoang Sa Troop Feasting Festival held annually on Ly Son island district to national level and turn it into a national festival on sea and islands was among a number of proposals raised at the workshop.
The festival and national cultural heritages on islands should be fully tapped to affirm territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, said participants.
Son took this opportunity to present the Ly Son district with a President Ho Chi Minh statue and hundreds of copies of books on sea and islands.