The Vietnamese government will assist European investors in everypossible way, a senior official has stated, amidst fears that theongoing tension in the East Sea will exert negative influence onbilateral trade.
The tension erupted when Chinaillegally installed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 and a large fleetof armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, in Vietnam’s continentalshelf and exclusive economic zone in early May, raising regional andglobal alarm.
Ever since, Chinese ships have continuouslyencircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats and eveninjured fishermen on board, threatening their lives, Deputy ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son told attendees at a workshop in Brussels on June3.
He thanked the world community for speaking outagainst China, whose unilateral act has seriously violated the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which it is a signatory.
The Vietnamese government and people insist on peaceful means tosettle the dispute, he said, voicing his hope that Vietnam and the EUwill reach a free trade agreement soon to facilitate their tradeactivity.
Parliamentarian Marc Tarabella, in charge of ASEANaffairs at the EU Parliament, made it clear that the EU will provide avoice of mediation in this issue, helping parties concerned reachconsensus via talks.
Delegates also gained a wider insightinto the ongoing developments in the East Sea area, including thedifferent legal aspects involved.
Speaking to a VietnamNews Agency reporter, Chairman of the Belgium – Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry Huynh Trang Long warned that if the tensioncontinues, not only Southeast Asia will suffer, but many other parts ofthe world as well.
As of June 3, the rig remained at 15degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes11 seconds east longitude. The location is 25 nautical miles from TriTon island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, completely withinVietnam’s continental shelf.
A Chinese ship on May 26even sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel with 10 fishermen on board withinVietnam’s waters. The fishermen were rescued.-VNA
The tension erupted when Chinaillegally installed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 and a large fleetof armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, in Vietnam’s continentalshelf and exclusive economic zone in early May, raising regional andglobal alarm.
Ever since, Chinese ships have continuouslyencircled, constrained and driven away Vietnamese fishing boats and eveninjured fishermen on board, threatening their lives, Deputy ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son told attendees at a workshop in Brussels on June3.
He thanked the world community for speaking outagainst China, whose unilateral act has seriously violated the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which it is a signatory.
The Vietnamese government and people insist on peaceful means tosettle the dispute, he said, voicing his hope that Vietnam and the EUwill reach a free trade agreement soon to facilitate their tradeactivity.
Parliamentarian Marc Tarabella, in charge of ASEANaffairs at the EU Parliament, made it clear that the EU will provide avoice of mediation in this issue, helping parties concerned reachconsensus via talks.
Delegates also gained a wider insightinto the ongoing developments in the East Sea area, including thedifferent legal aspects involved.
Speaking to a VietnamNews Agency reporter, Chairman of the Belgium – Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry Huynh Trang Long warned that if the tensioncontinues, not only Southeast Asia will suffer, but many other parts ofthe world as well.
As of June 3, the rig remained at 15degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes11 seconds east longitude. The location is 25 nautical miles from TriTon island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, completely withinVietnam’s continental shelf.
A Chinese ship on May 26even sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel with 10 fishermen on board withinVietnam’s waters. The fishermen were rescued.-VNA
