Press Conference 
 (Ha Noi, July 18th, 2013)

ANNOUNCEMENT

President Truong Tan Sang to visit the US (Jul. 24 – 26)

At the invitation of the President of the United States of America Barack Obama, President Truong Tan Sang will pay an official visit to the United States of America from July 24 – 26, 2013.

The visit affirms Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of relations and active and proactive international integration.

President Truong Tan Sang will hold talks with President Barack Obama and exchange views on the major orientations for relation between the two countries, particularly in areas of commerce, investment, science, technology, education, training, humanitarian issues... The two sides will also discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

President Truong Tan Sang will meet with representatives of the US Administration, Congress, a number of international organizations, the academia, US businesses and fellow Vietnamese in the US.

DPM Nguyen Thien Nhan to visit Hungary (Jul 28-30)

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will pay an official visit to Hungary from July 28–30 2013.

Both sides will take this opportunity to inform on their country’s developments and discuss measures to improve cooperation in trade, investment, development cooperation, education and training, science and technology, healthcare…, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén; pay courtesy calls to senior leaders of Hungary; visit a number of economic, cultural, education sites, and meet with fellow Vietnamese in Hungary.

Viet Nam – Italy first strategic Dialogue (Jul. 22 – 23)

As agreed upon in the Joint Statement on establishment of Viet Nam - Italy Strategic Partnership, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy Bruno Archi will co-chair the first Viet Nam – Italy Strategic Dialogue at the Vice-Ministerial level on July 22 and 23, 2013 in Ha Noi.

The two sides are expected to exchange ideas on measures to promote bilateral cooperation in different areas to become more substantive, effective and discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: Concerning the recent incident in which Chinese vessel chased Vietnamese fishing boats in Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, isn’t the fishery hotline used?

Answer: Competent agencies of the two countries have been working to put the hotline in place as agreed upon in the Agreement on opening hotline for incidents relating fishery operation at the sea. Once the hotline is operational we hope that the two sides can expedite the exchange  of information and measures to resolve incidents relating to fishery operation.

Question: China recently issued the first identity cards and resident cards to Chinese in the so-called “Shansha city”. Please provide your comment on that.

Answer: Viet Nam’s position on the so-called “Shansha city” has been stated in many occasions. The above-mentioned action by China violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos and is totally invalid. 

Question: The US has mentioned the possibility of upgrading the relationship between the US and Vietnam. How possible will it be in the upcoming visit to the US by President Truong Tan Sang?

Answer: Since the normalization of relations between Viet Nam and the US in July 1995, the bilateral ties have been growing positively. The two sides agreed to establish an active partnership of friendship and multifaceted cooperation, mutual respect and benefit. President Truong Tan Sang’s visit is of important significance in further broadening and deepening the relations between the two countries in the time to come./.