I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. The Ceremony to celebrate the 55^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia (24 June 1967 - 24 June 2022)

At the invitation of Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for the Viet Nam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, President of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Friendship Association Men Sam An will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 23 to 25 June 2022. She will also represent the Royal Government and high-level Leaders of Cambodia to attend the Ceremony commemorating the 55^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia (24 June 1967 - 24 June 2022), which is expected to take place at the Hanoi Opera House on 24 June 2022.

On Viet Nam’s part, there will be representatives of the high-level and former high-level Leaders of Viet Nam, of central and local Ministries and agencies, and of organizations and associations enjoying close cooperation with Cambodia attending this Ceremony. On Cambodia’s part, there will be Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, President of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Friendship Association Men Sam An, the Cambodian delegation, and around 100 delegates, including members of Cambodian representative missions, and Cambodian nationals and students currently working and studying in Viet Nam. 

This Ceremony is a key event in the Viet Nam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, marking a momentous milestone in the friendship of our two neighboring countries. It is a time for both sides to look back on the history and tradition of solidarity and mutual support during our past struggles for national independence, and our present efforts toward nation building and development. It would also serve to further raise awareness among our two peoples, particularly our youth, on the significance of the Viet Nam - Cambodia ties.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An will meet with Leaders of the Vietnamese Government, and high-level Leaders of the Party and State of Viet Nam.

2. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia paying a visit to Viet Nam (from 27 to 28 June 2022)

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Penny Wong will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 26 to 28 June 2022. This is the first official visit to Viet Nam by Madam Penny Wong in her new capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia.

During the visit, the two Foreign Ministers are expected to hold talks and exchange views on measures to further strengthen the Viet Nam - Australia Strategic Partnership and the ASEAN - Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest. On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will also meet with high-level Vietnamese Leaders.

3. The 2022 Da Nang Investment Forum

On 25 June 2022, Da Nang City will convene the 2022 Da Nang Investment Forum. It aims to provide information on the potential, advantages and opportunities for investment in Da Nang City to businesses and investors at home and abroad, as well as international organizations. Most notably, the Forum will cover responsive post-Covid-19 policies, publicly offer information on the adjustments to the Master Plan for Da Nang to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and outline projects currently calling for investment in the city. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend and deliver his instruction at the Forum.

The People’s Committee of Da Nang City would like to invite reporters at home and abroad to attend and provide coverage of this event.

4. Hue Festival 2022

From 25 to 30 June 2022, the Hue Festival 2022 will take place in Thua Thien Hue Province under the theme of “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development.”

This year, the Hue Festival is organized in a four-season format, with a series of cultural and festive activities occurring throughout the year. Cultural activities, art performances, as well as traditional, royal and new festivities are arranged under themes corresponding to each season, thereby providing further tourism products to tourists and the public. The highlight of these activities is the international cultural and art festival week, which is held once every two years.

The Hue Festival 2022 is organized after two years of suspension due to COVID-19. It reflects the effort of Thua Thien Hue Province, and of the entire country as a whole, in restoring the people’s lives to normal in the post-pandemic era. It also serves as a tourism stimulus event to fulfill the goal of developing an “proactive, sustainable and safe” tourism sector.

Thua Thien Hue Province also hopes that domestic and international reporters will follow with keen interest, attend and provide coverage of the Hue Festival 2022.

II. Q&A

1. Thanh Nien: What is Viet Nam’s reaction to the announcement of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration regarding a military drill on 19 June in the area within the territorial water spanning 12 nautical miles from Phu Lam Island, which belongs to Viet Nam’s Paracel Islands? 

China’s military drill in the Paracel Islands is a serious violation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over these islands. It goes against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), further complicates the situation, and proves detrimental to the ongoing negotiations between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC), and to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the South China Sea.

Viet Nam strongly opposes this action, and asks that China respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, and refrain from repeating offences of similar nature in the future.

2. AFP: Can you provide more information on the visit to Viet Nam by the US’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken in early July 2022?

Information regarding visits of foreign partners to Viet Nam will be announced at a suitable time.

3. AFP: Last week, activist Nguy Thi Khanh was sentenced to two years in imprisonment for tax evasion. Foreign observers believe that the sentencing of Nguy Thi Khanh was aimed at her efforts to urge Viet Nam to cut down on the use of coal-fired electricity. Please provide your comment on such opinions. Does the sentencing of Nguy Thi Khanh mean that Viet Nam is going against its commitments toward climate change response?

On 17 June 2022, the People’s Court of Hanoi opened a first-instance trial and sentenced Nguy Thi Khanh to two years in imprisonment for tax evasion in accordance with Article 200 of the Criminal Code. The investigation and trial were conducted in line with the law. The trial took place publicly, and the defendant was ensured all relevant rights in accordance with the law.

Viet Nam remains resolute in combating and punishing legal violations in line with the law, so as to uphold the rule of law, and ensure that all citizens are equal before the law. Viet Nam has implemented information dissemination and education measures to raise the people’s awareness of and improve their observance to the rule of law, and to establish a law-governed state in Viet Nam.

It is necessary to reiterate that Viet Nam always upholds a strict and strong commitment towards environmental protection, climate action, and green and sustainable development. This is also evident in a wide range of Viet Nam’s legal documents and policies. During the COP-26 Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in his remarks, affirmed Viet Nam’s commitment towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and cutting 30% of methane emissions underlying the greenhouse effect by 2030. Viet Nam also joined the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

At present, Viet Nam is taking holistic and comprehensive action in promoting energy transition, and is striving to shift its growth model towards a green and circular direction. The Government of Viet Nam has also conducted frequent and large-scale consultations to collect feedbacks from scientists, non-governmental organizations and international partners on the drafting of laws and policies pertaining to environmental issues and climate change. Organizations supporting environmental protection work and green growth in Viet Nam also partook in the aforementioned endeavors, and their contributions have been well recognized. 

As I have mentioned above, Nguy Thi Khanh was investigated and prosecuted on economic-related charges, specifically violations of the law in terms of tax management. She has admitted guilty to these accusations. Opinions claiming that Nguy Thi Khanh was criminally charged for her actions and views pertaining to climate change are unsubstantiated, and not in line with the nature of the incident.

4.Central News Agency: What is the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam on China’s plan to incorporate the South China Sea into its “internal water”? Does Viet Nam stand ready to work with Japan, Europe and the US in issues pertaining to the South China Sea?

Viet Nam’s position has been clearly and fully stated in Note Verbale no. 22/HC-2020 dated 30 March 2020, which has been circulated at the UN. Accordingly, Viet Nam asserts its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands in line with international law, and its sovereignty, sovereign rights and national jurisdiction over the waters as provided by the UNCLOS 1982.

Viet Nam believes that all countries share a common aspiration and goal in maintaining and promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the South China Sea, and in settling disputes in line with international law, including the UNCLOS 1982. Viet Nam has always made active and responsible contributions to this process.

5. Zing: Please provide further information on the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia? What preparations have we made for this visit?

As I have stated above, information regarding external affairs and visits of foreign partners to Viet Nam will be announced at a suitable time.

6. Phoenix TV: Monkey pox is spreading across many countries worldwide, and has reached Asian countries. Recently, Singapore and the Republic of Korea have recorded monkey pox cases upon entry. What measures has Viet Nam taken to tackle this disease? Will Viet Nam’s entry regulations for countries with recorded monkey pox cases be adjusted?

Having been aware of this issue, and with the goal of ensuring public health at a time when the world is recording increasing monkey pox cases, the Ministry of Health has sent documents to competent authorities and localities. As you may have been aware, these documents outline the need to step up monitoring, prevention and containment measures, so as to timely identify infected patients at border gates and healthcare facilities, particularly cases returning from countries in which monkey pox has been recorded. In addition, information dissemination measures have been put in place to raise awareness among the people regarding this disease and relevant prevention and containment measures. The Vietnamese press has also been providing constant updates on this matter, and playing active role in communication work to combat this disease.

According to the Ministry of Health, to date, Viet Nam has not recorded any monkey pox case.

Vietnamese competent authorities will continue to work with the World Health Organization to closely follow the development of monkey pox around the world to implement timely disease prevention and containment measures.

7. Can you provide more information on Viet Nam’s success in regaining ownership of the cashew nut containers involved in the suspected scam?

On 20 June 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has provided information on this matter.

On its part, at the instruction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working closely with relevant Ministries and agencies to investigate and identify the causes underlying this matter, and support domestic enterprises in handling this case. Vietnamese representative missions in Italy have been cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Development, and Financial Police of Italy, as well as local authorities to accelerate the handling of this matter, and minimize the losses incurred upon Vietnamese businesses.

To date, Vietnamese enterprises have regained ownership over all cashew nut containers of Vietnamese enterprises involved in the suspected scam in Italy.