I. Announcements

1.  The 55^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-55) and related meetings (1 to 6 August 2022)

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will lead the Vietnamese delegation attending the 55^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and meetings between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and partners (including ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, the EAS and the ARF) from 1 to 6 August 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In addition, the ASEAN - UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will take place for the first time since the UK became a dialogue partner of ASEAN.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with other ASEAN Foreign Ministers, will be attending the meeting of the Commission of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, and the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Dialogue. As country coordinator of ASEAN - ROK relations, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will co-chair the ASEAN - ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK Park Jin.

This is the most important series of Foreign Ministerial meetings of ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners this year. At the 55th AMM, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will discuss ASEAN’s cooperation priorities for 2022, the process of building the ASEAN Community, the directions for ASEAN post-2025, COVID-19 response, ASEAN’s external relations and centrality, as well as relevant international and regional issues.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings with other partners will focus on the assessment and direction for promoting relations between ASEAN and its partners, and discussions of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Before these meetings, ASEAN Senior Officials will meet in preparation on 1 August 2022.

II. Q&A

1. Tuổi Trẻ: On 15 July, the Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan declared an area of over 60,000 square kilometers as off-limits to all vessels, for a military exercise that took place from 16 to 20 July. This area overlaps with the Northern area of Viet Nam’s Paracel islands. What is Viet Nam’s comment on this?

Viet Nam’s position on China conducting a military exercise in the areas surrounding Viet Nam’s Paracel islands has been detailed in the Spokesperson’s statement on 23 June 2022. Once again, we strongly oppose any act violating Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands.

2. Tuổi Trẻ: Can you provide an update on the two citizens, alleged to be Hong Dang and Ho Hoai Anh, who were arrested in Spain?

The case is currently under investigation.

Recently, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Spain contacted the Spanish agency in charge of residence of foreign nationals requesting for assistance in issuing visas for the aforementioned two citizens.

Acting on the directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Spain is continuing to closely follow the case, maintaining contact with competent authorities of the host country and the citizens, and implementing citizen protection measures in accordance with Vietnamese and Spanish laws.

3. VnExpress: Can you provide some information on the situation of the Vietnamese nationals currently residing in Sri Lanka, and the citizen protection measures implemented there?

As the situation in Sri Lanka is unfolding complicatedly, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Sri Lanka has taken the initiative to closely follow the situation and ask competent authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety and security of Vietnamese nationals in the affected areas.

According to the information from the Embassy, previously there had been 300 individuals residing in Sri Lanka, but many have returned to Viet Nam. Their livelihood is affected by gas, electricity and fuel shortages and rising living costs. The Embassy has frequently kept in contact with them, provided essentials for those in particularly difficult situations, handed out gifts and encouraged the Vietnamese community to remain united and support one another to overcome this difficult period. They have also been provided with a hotline to contact in case of assistance.

Acting on the directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Sri Lanka will maintain contact with contact points from the community, to make plans and implement citizen protection measures in a timely manner and within their capacity.

4. AFP: What is Viet Nam’s response to the U.S. adding Viet Nam and some other countries to a human trafficking blacklist, and also mentioning that some diplomatic officials in Saudi Arabia were involved in human trafficking?

This morning, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a statement on this issue. I would like to also take this opportunity to talk about Viet Nam’s efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking as follows.

Since February 2021, following the implementation of the Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat Program for 2021-2025, with a vision towards 2030, Viet Nam has been stepping up efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking, with the strong focus and participation of all Ministries, agencies and localities. Viet Nam has promulgated a great many legal documents guiding the enforcement of the 2020 Law on Vietnamese guest workers. Viet Nam has also put forth other policies and laws on preventing human trafficking and forced labor, supported trafficked victims, and protected children on cyberspace. In reality, Viet Nam has been following with keen attention the situation pertaining to domestic and cross-border human trafficking, so as to come up with suitable countermeasures and mitigate the challenges caused by COVID-19. In addition, Viet Nam is actively bolstering its efforts in realizing its Implementation Plan for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), in order to ensure a transparent environment for migration, and prevent trafficking risks in international migration. On 18 July 2022, in anticipation of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (on 30 July), the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Coordination Protocol in receiving, protecting and supporting trafficked victims.

In this spirit, we hope that the U.S., in the time to come, will continue to work closely with Viet Nam in ensuring a comprehensive assessment on the circumstances pertaining to human trafficking in Viet Nam, and Viet Nam’s efforts to combat said issue. We stand ready to engage in exchanges with the U.S. and relevant parties on concrete cooperation issues, so as to together implement human trafficking efforts in an effective manner.

Regarding the second part of your question, please consult with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the agency in charge of this matter.

5. Phoenix TV: Last month, Viet Nam and India signed a MoU on logistics support which allows the use of each other’s military base. Indian press commented that this is the first major agreement that Viet Nam signed with another country in this area, bearing great importance for the stability of the Indo-Pacific. What is Viet Nam’s comment on this? Does Viet Nam intend to sign similar agreements with other countries in the region, such as China or Australia?

Information on the visit has been fully reported in the press.

With the defense policy of peace and self-defense, Viet Nam has defense ties with numerous countries, together contributing to peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.