“We consider this an important and positive contribution to security stability in the region and the world,” he said.
Answering questions on the accuracy of the news that the US Sacramentocity’s administration cancelled a meeting with a Vietnamese delegationled by Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s PartyCommittee Le Thanh Hai, the spokesperson said Hai’s working agenda inCalifornia is taking place as normal.
Within theframework of the visit, Hai had a meeting with California Governor EdmudJerry Brown on July 14 (local time), during which both sides discussedmeasures to advance the promising friendship and cooperation between HoChi Minh City and California, he said.
Regarding a fishing boat from central Quang Ngai province sunk by aChinese vessel while operating in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago waters,the spokesperson said Vietnam’s authorised agencies have activelyworked to clarify the specific details of the incident.
“However, we affirm that Hoang Sa and the waters surrounding thearchipelago are of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right andjurisdiction and are traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen.Therefore, we strongly protest all action hindering Vietnamesefishermen’s operations in their traditional vicinities,” he declared.
On China’s call on the Philippines to renounceefforts to deal with the East Sea dispute in international court anddiscuss directly with Beijing, Binh said Vietnam has a clear andconstant stance on issues related to disputes in the East Sea.
“Vietnam supports the settlement of East Sea disputes throughpeaceful measures in line with international law, especially the 1982United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he underscored.
During the press conference, the spokesperson also responded to aquery on a Vietnamese national sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by aUS court, affirming that Vietnamese representative agencies in theUS are coordinating closely with the host country to clarifyinformation related to the case.
The ForeignMinistry has also directed Vietnamese representative offices in the USto ask for the US’ permission for a consular visit to theVietnamese national while rolling out all measures to ensure the utmostrights of the citizen, he announced.
Responding to aquestion on Vietnam’s fishing boat QNg 95924 TS with 33 crewmembersseized by Brunei in May 2015 and who underwent trial in June thisyear, Binh said that the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei reported that onJuly 12, 2015, the embassy had worked with the Brunei side to sendtwo juvenile fishermen home.
The other 31 fishermenjailed in Brunei are in good health condition, he said, adding that21 fishermen are released on July 16, eight on July 29 and thefinal two owners of the boat on September 29.
Inthat time, the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei will coordinate closely withBrunei’s authorised agencies to ensure boat storage while clearingnecessary procedures for the fishermen to return home after concludingtheir imprisonment, Binh said.-VNA