The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on October 19 handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs the 1827 World Atlas Bruxelles, which is highly appreciated for high scientific and legal value in proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The hand-over is aimed at preserving the atlas at the best possible conditions and effectively helping scientists and authorised agencies in their research, communication efforts and during the legal struggles to testify Vietnam’s sovereignty.

According to the MIC’s Authority of Foreign Information Service, in 1827, Philippe Vandermaelen (1795-1869), a remarkable geographer and member of the Paris Geography Association, published the World Atlas that comprises 6 volumes with 7 general maps of the five continents, 381 detailed maps, 40 pages of statistics and a lot of information on natural, political and mineral geography.

The Atlas was completed on the basis of the best maps in the world at that time. There are 111 maps on Asia, arranged mainly in volume 2 of the Atlas. Vietnam, known as An Nam at that time, was introduced in the maps No.97, 105, 106 and 110.

The Partie de la Cochichine map is the 106th map with the coastline from the Central part from the 12th to the 16 th north latitude.

In offshore, Paracels (Hoang Sa) was drawn in detail and preciseness from the 16th to the 17th north latitude and from the 109th to 111th east longitude.

Close to the Parties de la Chochichine is the map 98 with the name the Parties de la Chine up above at the 18th latitude to 21st latitude and the 106th longitude to the 114th longitude, where Guangdong and Hainan were drawn. This shows that the southernmost boundary of China was not close to the 18th latitude.

The atlas is regarded as the objective and credible document testifying Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago.

VNA/VNN