The 13th International Conference on the East Sea (Photo: nld.com.vn)

The conference themed "Looking back to a brighter future" was organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV).

It suggested that ASEAN continue to provide a clear policy orientation to strengthen trust within the bloc, affirm its centrality in handling relations with major countries, manage crisis, and promote cooperation in the region.

Participants emphasized the importance of the 2016 arbitral award in narrowing disputes and clarifying the legal basis for a number of issues in the East Sea. They highlighted marine research and marine environment protection.

During the two-day conference, international scholars, researchers and diplomats involved in hundreds of discussions, both online and in person.