I. ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Armenian Foreign Minister to pay an official visit to Viet Nam

At the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from Feb 24-25. The visit is aimed at strengthening the multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Armenia as well as collaboration between the two Foreign Ministries. Armenian Foreign Minister will hold talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and pay courtesy calls on Vietnamese high-level leaders.

2. Colombian Foreign Minister  to pay an official visit to Viet Nam

At the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin will pay an official visit to Viet Nam Feb. 25-27  to strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
Colombian Foreign Minister will hold talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and pay courtesy calls on Vietnamese high-level leaders. A number of documents are expected to be signed on this occasion.

3. Italian Foreign Minister to pay an official visit to Viet Nam

At the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from Feb. 29  - Mar. 01. The two sides will exchange views on measures to strengthen cooperation between Viet Nam and Italy in the coming time and international and regional issues of mutual concern.
 
4. Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service to pay a working visit to Viet Nam

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service David O’Sullivan will pay a working visit to Viet Nam Feb.28^th  - Mar. 3^rd.

Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service David O’Sullivan will pay courtesy calls on Vietnamese leaders and hold Viet Nam-EU talks at deputy foreign minister-level to exchange views on measures to boost the relations between Viet Nam and EU as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.

II. QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question:  Reports on Chinese media reveal that since early this year Chinese ministries and agencies have conducted a number of activities in the East Sea like visit by Chinese Minister of Transport to Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago to inspect Haixun vessel; visit by the Head of Chinese General Administration of Sport to Phu Lam (Woody) Island in Hoang Sa archipelago to supervise sport activities in the area; projects conducted by “Nanhai” Institute of Environmental studies and maritime construction survey to measure, supervise, analize and assess changes in some key islands in Hoang Sa archipelago; statement by Chief of  “NanHai”  Fishery Administration that China has planned to build fishery facilities in Phu Lam Island, Hoang Sa archipelago, piers and fishery facilities in Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago. What is Vietnam’s reaction to those activities by the Chinese side?

Answer:

Viet Nam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Any activity undertaken in the area of these two archipelagos without Viet Nam’s consent constitutes serious violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty,  further complicates and tenses situation in the East Sea, goes against the Agreement on basic principles on solving maritime issues signed between the two countries, runs counter to the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) as well as commitments to maintain stability and peace in the sea.

Viet Nam asks China to immediately end  activities and projects  that violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty and to cooperate with parties concerned  to maintain peace, stability in the East Sea and to strictly observe DOC.