International conference seeks solutions for peaceful spaces in Quang Tri

An international conference was held on July 22 in Quang Tri Province’s Dong Ha City to share Vietnamese people’s values and aspirations for peace and suggest initiatives to help build global peace.

The conference, titled “Lessons on peace, seen from Vietnamese practice”, was an activity in response to the 2024 Festival for Peace hosted by the central coastal province.

The international conference titled “Lessons on peace, seen from Vietnamese practice”. Photo: Thanh Hai

World peace and security now face serious traditional and non-traditional challenges, said the Chairman of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, Ha Hung Cuong.

Competition and confrontation between major countries are becoming increasingly fierce, while power politics, extreme nationalism, and ethnic and religious conflicts are constantly increasing, he added.

The arms race, including nuclear deterrence, is becoming increasingly fierce, Cuong said, citing several events such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas, tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and East Sea.

"Global institutions and international communities become weaker to prevent war and restore peace. The role of international law and the rule of law in international relations is being overshadowed," Cuong said.

In a message sent to the conference, Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice State President and Honorary President of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, said that peace is a prerequisite for humanity to exist and pursue happiness and for every country to mobilize and concentrate all resources for development.

A peaceful and secure environment is a top benefit for each country, she said, adding that preserving peace is the common responsibility of all humanity, all countries and all people.

"Vietnam is a peace-loving nation with a tradition of kindness and filial piety. Having gone through many wars for independence and national unification, we appreciate the value of peace, and we always hope that our friends around the world will maintain global peace," Binh said.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee Hoang Nam delivers his remarks. Photo: Thanh Hai

According to the Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee Hoang Nam, the province carries the nation’s eternal desire for peace.

For a long time, Quang Tri has become a destination of gratitude, a common symbol of the nation’s desire for peace, and a destination for international friends to admire, share, contemplate and honor the value of peace, especially during July, Nam said.

The province’s vice chairman expected that delegates at the conference would advise Quang Tri to continue writing the story of peace on this land.

“Quang Tri wants to become a place of peace for all people in Vietnam and other countries,” he said.

The conference included two discussion sessions, two introductions, and nine official presentations. Scholars and delegates from international NGOs discussed the values of peace and initiatives to build global peace.

Topics covered included lessons from Vietnam’s resistance wars, President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on peace, Vietnam’s diplomatic strategies for peace, the fight for national independence and peace, the value of peace from a Quang Tri veteran’s perspective, PeaceTrees Vietnam’s mission, regional and global peace and security mechanisms, the Vietnamese “bamboo” diplomacy, and peace and reconciliation initiatives in Quang Tri.

The discussions aimed to share Vietnam’s experiences and lessons on the fight for peace and propose initiatives to promote a peaceful, just, stable, and sustainable world.

Delegates and experts take a group photo at the conference. Photo: Thanh Hai

Delegates agreed that preventing war and protecting peace is a global imperative. They emphasized the need to build a fair international order based on the UN Charter and promote comprehensive collective security mechanisms to resolve disputes and maintain peace.

Delegates stressed the importance of disarmament over an arms race, and cooperation over confrontation. They highlighted the crucial role of the people and civil society in this mission.

Regarding peacebuilding initiatives, opinions stressed the importance of building a united alliance to support Vietnam and Quang Tri in healing war wounds and creating a safer future.

Quang Tri, with its history of division, was seen as an ideal place to discuss peace. Delegates suggested building trust, promoting dialogue, and turning the Festival for Peace into a daily theme to inspire cooperation and mutual prosperity.

To make Quang Tri a peaceful cultural destination, delegates proposed concrete activities to extend the Festival for Peace’s message and establish the city as a hub for world peace, starting with building trust and continuing the desire for global peace.

Thanh Hai – Huy Anh