PRESS CONFERENCE
(Ha Noi, November 22th 2012)

ANNOUNCEMENT

PRESIDENT TRUONG TAN SANG TO VISIT BRUNEI (Nov. 27 – 29)

At the invitation of the King of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, President Truong Tan Sang will make a state visit to Brunei from November 27 – 29, 2012. The visit takes place amidst the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam – Brunei diplomatic relations  (1992 – 2012).

President Truong Tan Sang will hold talks with King Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to discuss ways and means to further tighten the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and to promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, labor, education and training, agriculture, oil and gas, aquaculture, etc. The two leaders will also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

PRESIDENT TRUONG TAN SANG TO VISIT MYANMAR (Nov.29 – Dec.1)

At the invitation of the President of the Union of Myanmar Thein Sein, President Truong Tan Sang will make a state visit to Myanmar from November 29 to December 1, 2012.

President Truong Tan Sang will hold talks with President Thein Sein to discuss practical measures to boost cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, maritime cooperation, agriculture and fishery, oil and gas, labor, construction, etc. The two leaders also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

President Truong Tan Sang will visit some cultural and economic sites in the capital city of Naypyidaw and Rangoon and meet with Myanmar’s businesses.

DPM HOANG TRUNG HAI TO VISIT NETHERLANDS AND CO-CHAIR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING (Nov. 26-30)

At the invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai will pay a working visit to the Netherlands and co-chair the 2nd session of Viet Nam – Netherlands Inter-governmental committee on climate change adaptation and water management November 26 – 30, 2012.

This visit is aimed at deepening and adding substance to Viet Nam – Netherlands relations, particularly in five areas of priority namely climate change adaptation and water management, agriculture, maritime economy, oil and gas, logistics, as well as discussing measures to boost cooperation in areas such as economics, trade, investment, education – training, etc.

DPM HOANG TRUNG HAI TO VISIT UKRAINE (Dec. 1 – 4)

At the invitation of the Government of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai will make a working visit to Ukraine from December 1 to 4, 2012.

The two sides will exchange concrete views on the implementation of high level agreements reached by leaders of both countries; discuss directions, measures to boost cooperation in the areas that both sides have potentials and demands such as heavy industry, energy, infrastructure, civil aviation, etc as well as exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Question: China recently issued citizen e-passport that marks on pages Chinese map and the 9 – dashed line. How do you comment on that?

Answer:

The said action by China violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes as well as Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and national jurisdiction over related waters in the East Sea.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s representatives met and handed to the Chinese Embassy’s representatives in Ha Noi a diplomatic note to protest and request China to repeal the wrongful contents printed in the above-mentioned e-passport.

2. Question: Please provide Viet Nam’s stance on the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine, which officially came into effect at 19.00 hours GMT, November 21st 2012?

Answer:

Viet Nam is deeply concerned over the state of serious violence occurred between Israel and Palestine which killed hundreds of civilians, many of them women and children. We condemn all military attacks that cause losses of life and property of civilians.

We applaud efforts to soon restore peace and stability in the region and call on parties concerned to observe the ceasefire agreement.

3. Question: Please confirm that following the 21st ASEAN Summit, ASEAN member countries that involved in territorial disputes in the East Sea are about to convene for meeting in Manila on December 12, 2012?

Answer:

We have received word from the Philippines and are await for the official confirmation, which also lay out concept, content and time for the meeting.

Consultation between ASEAN countries on the East Sea issues is a normal and regular work to promote the maintenance of peace, stability, security and navigation safety in the East Sea as well as to put forward peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and existing agreements and commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the ASEAN Statement on Six-Point Principles and the recent Joint Statement on 10th Anniversary of the DOC.

4. Question: Is it true that Decision No. 20 that requires foreign program to subtitle Vietnamese language is aimed at restricting foreign TV programs, especially foreign news channels?

Answer:

Regulations on editing and translating contents of foreign channels in Vietnamese pay TV services were previously stipulated in a number of legal documents, such as Prime Minister’s Decision No. 79 issued June 18, 2002. Regulations on pay TV that is attached to Prime Minister’s Decision No. 20 issued March 24, 2011, is to further detail earlier requirements of editing and translating of foreign programs. The aim is to help Vietnamese viewers to understand foreign-language contents more easily.
Viet Nam’s consistent policy is to facilitate foreign business in various fields operating in our country, including television industry. There are more than 70 foreign TV channels registered in the pay TV services in Viet Nam. That there are so many foreign TV channels available in Viet Nam is also encourages and boosts the development of the pay TV sector in Viet Nam and also helps local viewers get wider access to news and information from the world.

While the said regulation is in place, Vietnamese relevant agencies continue to listen and study opinions from parties concerned./.