ANNOUNCEMENT

+ Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attends the AMM-56 (11-14 July 2023)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will attend the 56th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 11st to 14th July 2023.

This is the most important event of the year for ASEAN Foreign Ministers to assess the situation and put forth directions for intra-ASEAN cooperation, as well as cooperation between ASEAN and partners. AMM-56 is also a step to realize the decisions made by ASEAN leaders at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, while also preparing for ASEAN’s activities in the latter six months of 2023.       

During the visit, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son is expected to attend the Plenary Session, the Retreat Session of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN - Partners Summits, the 24th ASEAN+3 Summit, the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS), the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, and Dialogues between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. For the duration of the Meeting, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of a number of countries.

Q&A
1. Dan Viet: Could you comment on the information that the organizers of the BlackPink concert posted a map featuring the “nine-dash line”?

Viet Nam’s position on the “nine-dash line” claim has been clearly reiterated on numerous occasions. Regarding your question, from what I’ve been informed, Vietnamese competent authorities are currently in the process of verifying the information.

2. Dan Viet: What is Viet Nam’s comment to the movie “Barbie” being banned in Viet Nam due to a violation regarding the “nine-dash line”?

Viet Nam’s position on the “nine-dash line” claim is explicit, consistent, and has been reiterated on numerous occasions. The promotion and usage of products or publications featuring the “nine-dash line” in Viet Nam is a violation of Vietnamese regulations and thus not accepted.

Regarding the aforementioned incident, the press have reported on it as well as the measures taken by Vietnamese competent authorities in accordance with Vietnamese law.

3. Dan Viet: In his statement on anti-terrorism at the UN, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang mentioned the Dak Lak incident and stated that Viet Nam has asked countries and relevant international organizations for assistance and cooperation in the investigation as well as to prevent similar reoccurrences in the future. Could you provide more information on how cooperation with other countries on this matter has been going on? 

Information on the incident has been regularly provided by the Ministry of Public Security and by the press. Currently, the case is still being investigated.

4. VTC News: On 5 July, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has affirmed its 10 January decision to declare the Philippines’ oil exploration deal with China and Viet Nam as unconstitutional. Could you provide more information and comment on this matter?
Viet Nam’s position on this matter was stated on 12 January 2023.

5. Central News Agency: During his visit to Viet Nam last April, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on behalf of President Joe Biden, reiterated the invitation to visit the US to General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong accepted the invitation and requested that relevant agencies arrange the visit at a suitable time. How have the preparations been carried out, and when is the expected date of the visit?

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam - US Comprehensive Partnership (25 July 2013 - 25 July 2023), both sides implemented a number of activities, including the maintenance of high-level exchanges.

Bilateral exchanges between the two countries will be reported at a later date.

6. Central News Agency: Mr. Ta Van Tuong, Vice Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hanoi recently suggested that Hanoi gradually cease the trade of cat and dog meat in order to make a good impression on foreign tourists. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position on the trade of cat and dog meat? Do you think it is part of Vietnamese cuisine or should you stop the consumption of dog and cat meat in line with Western trends?

The trade and consumption of domesticated animals, including dog and cat meat, is an issue which attracts considerable attention from the public. Recently, Viet Nam has issued a number of legal documents related to this matter, and will continue to perfect the legal system to increase the effectiveness of their implementation in practice, to ensure animal welfare as well as the health of the people.

7. Phoenix TV: Since Japan’s announcement that it will be releasing nuclear waste water into the ocean, many countries have opposed the idea, at times leading to demonstrations. As a littoral nation, what is Viet Nam’s comment on this plan?

Viet Nam supports the development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Viet Nam believes that the responsibility to ensure nuclear safety and security rests on the countries using nuclear energy. Viet Nam asks that there be close international cooperation in this matter, transparency in information sharing, and responsible conduct in accordance with international law in the case of incidents or accidents.

 Viet Nam also attaches great importance to the maintance of peace and stability in the region, the protection of maritime environment and resources in accordance with international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and relevant regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

8. Phoenix TV: Since the incident in Dak Lak, there have been many posts attacking the Party and State, or claiming that it was caused by ethnic discrimination. What is the Vietnamese government’s response to this?

We completely refute these incorrect opinions. This is an organized act which violated the law, creating disorder, severely affecting security, and will be punished in accordance with the law.

9. Tien Phong: Do the current riots affect the lives of the Vietnamese people residing in France? If so, please provide further information.

Regarding the situation in a number of French cities in the past few days, the Vietnamese Embassy in France is closely following the developments and has appointed an operator on standby for the hotline, ready to assist Vietnamese citizen in need. So far, we have not recorded any Vietnamese citizens who were affected by these incidents.

Acting on the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in France has issued recommendations for Vietnamese citizens working and studying in France. When in need, citizens may contact the Embassy’s hotline at +33-01-46146444 or the Citizen Protection Hotline at +84-981-848484.

10. Reuters: The Cultural Inspector is looking into the incident in which the BlackPink concert organizers posted a map with the nine-dash line. When are the results expected to be publicized? If there had been a violation, how would it be handled? 
I shall forward your question along to relevant authorities.