ANNOUNCEMENTS

+ Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Cherynshenko pays an official visit to Viet Nam 

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko will pay an official visit to Viet Nam and co-chair the 24th meeting of the Viet Nam - Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation from 5 to 7 April.

The visit takes place as the Viet Nam - Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to be strengthened, and exchanges of delegations and meetings at all levels have been maintained. Cooperation between the two countries have been promoted in all areas, and achieved positive results.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko will meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, co-chair the 24th meeting of the Viet Nam - Russia Intergovernmental Commission with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, among other activities.

+ 2023 Learning about Viet Nam Day in Bac Ninh (7 April 2023)

On 7 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh Province, will organize the “2023 Learning About Viet Nam Day” to promote the culture of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac.

"Learning about Viet Nam Day" has been held since 2015, in order to promote the culture, history, country and people of Viet Nam, provide information on the socio-economic and foreign affairs achievements of the country to foreign representative agencies and international organizations in Viet Nam. The event has been highly appreciated by participants in previous years, contributing to improving the international community's understanding of Viet Nam’s socio-economic development, cultural quintessence and heritage values as recognized by UNESCO.

Among attendants in this year's program are Heads of Diplomatic Missions, international organizations in Hanoi and their spouses, the ASEAN Community Women's Circle in Hanoi, and newly appointed Vietnamese ambassadors. During the event, the guests will experience many activities to learn about Quan Ho folk singing, the intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO, the unique art of making Dong Ho folk paintings, and Dong Ngu water puppetry imbued with the unique culture of the Kinh Bac region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent out invitations to foreign and domestic press agencies, diplomatic missions and international organizations in Hanoi. We hope to see you in Bac Ninh.

Q&A

1. Viet Nam News Agency: Can you provide Viet Nam’s comment on the the documentary “MH370: The Plane That Disappeared” which included factually inaccurate information alleging that Viet Nam was uncooperative in the search for the MH370?

In the immediate aftermath of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370, Vietnamese competent authorities actively prepared response plans, shared information, cooperated with Malaysia and other countries wishing to conduct wide-scale search and rescue, and supported foreign journalists in reporting on the incident. Viet Nam’s efforts at the time have been acknowledged by the international community and the press in Viet Nam and abroad.

So far, competent authorities have not given an official conclusion on the MH370 incident. Therefore, that the documentary, “MH370: The Plane That Disappeared” gave assessments without an official conclusion from the authorities means the information is factually incorrect, unfounded, and does not accurately reflect the efforts of the Vietnamese authorities, causing discontent in Vietnamese public opinion.

We ask that the producers and filmmakers accurately portray Viet Nam’s contributions in the search and rescue for flight MH370, and to remove or amend inaccurate information.

2. Tuoi tre: Can you comment on Viet Nam’s position on resolving disputes in the South China Sea?

As a country with a consistent position regarding resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, Viet Nam supports countries working together to resolve differences in the South China Sea on the basis of respect for the lawful rights and interests of all countries as established by the 1982 UNCLOS, to make active and meaningful contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability, maritime legal order, security and safety of navigation and overflight, and promote sustainable development at seas and oceans.

With the aforementioned policy, Viet Nam stands ready to negotiate with relevant countries to resolve legacy land and border issues, to actively contribute to the friendship between Viet Nam and other countries, and to peace and stability in the region and the world.

3. Tuoi tre: Can you provide an update on the activities of the Haiyang Dizhi vessel currently alleged to be operating in Vietnamese waters?

Viet Nam wishes to reaffirm that our consistent position is that all activities in the South China Sea need to strictly adhere to international law, respect Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction toward our waters as established in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.

According to Viet Nam’s maritime law enforcement, China’s Haiyang Dizhi 4 vessel has left Viet Nam’s waters.

4. Tuoi tre: Can you comment on the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announcing a list of 33 “reference sections”, including some routes in the South China Sea (NH2, NH3) that overlap with the Spratly islands and Vietnamese waters?

As reiterated on numerous occasions, Viet Nam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in accordance with international law, as well as sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction toward Viet Nam’s waters in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.

The scientific research and survey in the vicinity of the Spratly islands and Vietnamese waters in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS conducted without Viet Nam’s express permission is a violation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty toward the Spratly islands, Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction toward its waters, and is therefore null and void.

5. Tuoi tre: On 30 March, Chinese Taipei media reported that a number of bodies bearing Vietnamese identification were discovered at sea in the waters near the island. On 3 April, Chinese Taipei media discovered a further 12 Vietnamese nationals on a fishing vessel near Chinese Taipei, and these individuals are suspected to be victims of human trafficking. Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide more information on this incident and what are the citizen protection measures being employed?

Regarding the recent discovery of a number of bodies of foreign nationals, including some bearing Vietnamese identification in the waters of Chinese Taipei, acting on the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consular Department and the Viet Nam Economic and Culture Office in Taipei have been working closely with Chinese Taipei competent authorities to closely follow the case, provide support for the families of those missing, carry out identification processes and funeral arrangements.

Regarding the discovery of 12 people bearing Vietnamese identification traveling illegally, we have only recently received this information.

Immediately upon receiving the information, acting on the directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Viet Nam Economic and Culture Office in Taipei took the initiative in contacting Chinese Taipei authorities to grasp the situation and implement necessary citizen protection measures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also working with domestic competent authorities to clarify the information, closely follow the case, and to implement measures to raise people’s awareness on safe and legal migration in order to prevent future reoccurrences.

6. Reuters: Can you provide more detailed information on the cooperation agreements between the governments and corporations of Viet Nam and Russia that will be signed during the visit by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia? Will the contents of discussion involve the situation in the South China Sea?

          As I have announced, this morning, 6 April, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko co-chaired the 24th meeting of the Viet Nam - Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation. I’ve been told that the meeting only concluded a short while ago.

At the meeting, both sides reaffirmed that they attach great importance to and wish to strengthen the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, worked together to review the results of the implemention of the 23rd meeting’s final protocol, while also proposing, discussing and agreeing upon measures to strengthen bilateral relations in economics, trade, science, technology, culture, and tourism, and resolved difficulties in a number of cooperation projects. At the conclusion, the two Deputy Prime Ministers signed the 24th meeting’s final protocol and bore witness to the signing of a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries in high-technology and education - training.

Detailed information on the meeting, and on other activities of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko’s delegation will be provided to you at the earliest.

7. Central News Agency: To follow up on Tuoi Tre’s question regarding Chinese Taipei, has the identification process been completed? Do the victims’ families have any questions on the cause of death? When will they be arranged to come to Chinese Taipei? How does Viet Nam explain the recent cases of illegal border crossing?

Vietnamese competent authorities have continued to provide support for families of those presumed missing who are in the process of identification. One of the methods is through DNA testing. Vietnamese authorities are also assisting the families in funeral arrangements.

The Vietnamese government’s policy is to facilitate safe, legal and orderly migration, while also combating illegal migration, human smuggling and human trafficking.

Recently, Viet Nam has resolutely implemented measures to prevent and combat human trafficking, and implemented the Program to prevent and combat human trafficking for the period 2021 - 2025, with directions to 2030, with new solutions and missions to prevent and combat human trafficking in all areas. Viet Nam is making every effort to realize the goals of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in accordance with the Plan issued by the Prime Minister on 20 March 2020, to create a transparent migration environment, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of migrants, and prevent the risk of human trafficking in international migration.

In addition, Viet Nam has strengthened cooperation with a number of countries and organizations, including the INTERPOL, in the prevention, detection, investigation and handling of human trafficking rings in accordance with the law. Viet Nam also stands ready to discuss and cooperate with countries to handle related cases in a timely manner, to ensure legal, safe migration and prevent the risk of human trafficking, for the legitimate rights and interests of migrants.