ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENTS BY MR. LE DZUNG, THE SPOKESMAN
OF THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 8th APRIL 2004
THANH NIEN (Youth) Newspaper: Please provide Vietnam’s comment on statements made by Philippine's Foreign Minister that the Philippines will not object Vietnam’s plan to bring tourists to Truong Sa island?
KYODO NEWS: Which countries in the region, apart from China, have so far voiced their objection to the Spratly tour planned for 19 April? Does Vietnam think that starting such tours will aggravate tension among the Spratly claimants?
Answer:
According to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the first trip to the Spratlys is scheduled for mid-April. Participants of the trip are Vietnamese tourists, foreigners are not invited yet.
To my knowledge, the number of tourists registered to join the Spratly trip is beyond the service capability of the tour organizer.
It is a normal civil activity of Vietnam to organize tours to the Spratly Islands, a part of Vietnam’s territory, to meet tourist needs of the people.
As a signatory to the November 2002 Declaration of Conducts of Parties in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China, Vietnam committed to joining efforts with other parties to strictly observe the DOC in order to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.
