I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

+ The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada will pay a visit to Viet Nam

 At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Mélanie Joly will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 12 to 14 April 2022.

 As part of the trip, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly is expected to meet with Vietnamese high-level leaders andhold talks with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to exchange measures to strengthen the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries, and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

II. Q&A

1. Tuoi tre: What is Viet Nam's response to the information by the China Maritime Safety Administration that China will organize a military exercise in the South China Sea from 19 March to 9 April?

Viet Nam’s position regarding this matter was clarified on 7 March 2022. Viet Nam once again requests that China respect Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as established in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and to cease all activities violating them, to exercise restraint, refrain from actions that may complicate the situation, and contribute to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.

 Viet Nam continues to discuss with China regarding this matter.

2. Tuoi tre: Recently, the US - ASEAN Summit, which was expected to be convened at the end of March, has been postponed. What was the reason for this, and has a new date been decided?

ASEAN highly appreciates the US’ proposal of a ASEAN - US Special Summit on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of ASEAN - US diplomatic relations.

Both sides have agreed to convene this Summit at the earliest, and are currently discussing measures to carry out relevant preparations.

3. Viet Nam National Defense News Channel: According to plan, at the end of April, the 7th Viet Nam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange will be held in Cao Bang and Guangxi. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ comment on this event?

 Recently, exchanges at all levels and between agencies and localities of Viet Nam and China have been maintained regularly in diverse formats.

 The Viet Nam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange is an annual activity by the two countries’ Defense Ministries, border defense forces with various diverse and meaningful activities, to increase mutual understanding and trust, improve cooperation effectiveness in managing and safeguarding the border between the two countries’ border defense forces in particular, and respective armed forces as a whole. This event promotes friendship exchanges and cooperation between the authorities and people in the border areas, strengthens the Viet Nam - China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and contributes to building a peaceful Viet Nam - China land border of friendship, cooperation and development.

4. VnExpress: In November 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to support ASEAN countries with 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Has China handed over these vaccines to ASEAN? How many doses will Viet Nam receive?

At the Special ASEAN - China Summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of ASEAN - China diplomatic relations held on 21 November 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will provide an additional 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for ASEAN countries. ASEAN leaders highly appreciate this proposal and stand ready to receive these vaccines, which shall contribute to COVID-19 prevention and control in the region.

5. Zing News: Can you provide a comment on the information that China has completely militarized islands which they illegally constructed on Viet Nam’s Spratly islands?

Viet Nam has full legal ground and historical evidence to assert sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands in accordance with international law, as well as sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

The militarization of some entities which are part of the Spratly islands not only violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over these islands, but also causes concern for other countries in the region and the international community as reflected in ASEAN’s documents, and is not conducive to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.

Viet Nam requests that China respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty, cease all militarization, refrain from acts that would escalate tension in the region, and maintain favorable conditions for continued joint efforts with ASEAN to promote negotiations toward achieving a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS at the earliest possible time.

6. Zing News: A retired Supreme Court Justice from the Philippines recently proposed that the Philippines should conduct a joint patrol of the South China Sea with Viet Nam and other countries. What is Viet Nam’s comment on this?

Viet Nam wishes to cooperate with other countries in contributing to peace, stability, security, safety, cooperation and development in the South China Sea on the basis of international law and the 1982 UNCLOS for common interest and in line with the aspirations of countries in the region and of the international community.

With this in mind, for many years, Viet Nam has cooperated in joint patrol with countries in the region such as Cambodia, China and Thailand, and carried out international cooperation activities in scientific research, environmental protection, anti-maritime crime, and other economic activities.

7. VnExpress: On the night of 3 April, Osaka police discovered the body of a Vietnamese national in an apartment in Yodogawa, who was suspected to have been murdered by her Japanese landlord. Can you provide more information on the incident, and what citizen protection measures have been carried out?

According to the Consulate General of Viet Nam in Osaka, on 4 April 2022, local police announced the discovery of a body alleged to be a Vietnamese national in a house in Yodogawa, Osaka, Japan. Forensic results have shown that the victim was murdered around 9 am on 3 April 2022.

After being notified, the Consulate General has gotten in contact with local competent authorities and requested for a prompt investigation of this case. At the same time, the Consulate General contacted the Vietnamese community in Osaka for further information. Currently, the victim’s body has been transferred to their family.

As instructed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate General in Osaka continues to follow the investigation, carry out measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, while coordinating with local and Vietnamese competent authorities to make the after-death arrangements in line with the wishes of the deceased’s family.

 We would like to take this opportunity to convey our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.

8. Thanh Nien: Can you provide updated information on the list of countries that recognize Viet Nam’s vaccine passport?

As announced in the previous press conference, to date, Viet Nam has achieved agreements on mutual recognition of vaccine passports with 19 countries, including Japan, the US, the UK, Australia, India, Belarus, Cambodia, the Philippines, Palestine, Maldives, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Turkey, Singapore, Saint Lucia, Korea, Iran and Malaysia.

 I would also like to inform you that recently, on 4 April, the Ministry of Health issued detailed guidance on the process of issuing the vaccine passport in Viet Nam, and from 15 April, vaccine passports will start being issued for the people.