Nghe An (VNA) – Historical and legal proofs affirming Vietnam’sownership of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos are beingshowcased at an exhibition that opened in Thanh Chuong district, the centralprovince of Nghe An on April 25.

On display are 150 maps, documents and publications which were discovered andcollected by both international and domestic researchers and scholars.

Theyinclude copies of documents written in Han (classical Chinese), Nom (Vietnameseideographic script), Vietnamese and French, which were issued by the Vietnamesefeudal dynasties and French administration in Indochina from the 17th centuryto the early 20th century.

Especially,the exhibition features official documents of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945)recording Vietnam’s constant process of establishing, exercising andsafeguarding sovereignty over the two archipelagos. Meanwhile, various versionsof administrative documents issued between 1954-1975 highlighting the exerciseand safeguarding of the archipelagos are also exhibited.

The two-day event also introduces a line-up of relevant documents andpublications by some western countries in the 18th and 19th centuries, certifying that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos belong toVietnam. Especially, the exhibits include four atlases published by the Chinesegovernments through historical periods, defining Hainan island as China’ssouthernmost point.

The exhibition aims to raise public awareness, spirit of solidarity andresponsibility of Vietnamese people, especially expats and young generations,in protecting and affirming the national sovereignty over Hoang Sa and TruongSa islands.

Also on April 25, a similar exhibition took place in Oc Eo town, Thoai Sondistrict, the Mekong Delta province o An Giang.-VNA