(VOVworld) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Friday talked on the phone with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Singaporean Foreign Minister Shanmugam and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

During talks, Minh discussed measures to boost bilateral ties with the three countries. He informed the Foreign Ministers about the latest developments related to China’s oil rig Haiyang 981, particularly China’s deployment of a large number of vessels, including warships and missile escort ships, to Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. The official emphasized that Vietnam strongly requests China to withdraw its rig and ships out of Vietnam’s waters. He took the occasion to inform the partners of Vietnam’s diplomatic efforts to ease the tension. The Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Singapore and Russia said Vietnam and China should show restraint and deal with disputes with peaceful means. Mentioning the recent demonstrations in some localities in Vietnam with the Singaporean Foreign Minister, Minh affirmed that the situation has eased. He said that Vietnam has taken necessary measures to stabilise the situation and punish those who caused public disorder and damaged other people’s properties. Vietnam attaches special importance to ensuring security, safety and property for foreign investors, including those from Singapore, he said, expressing his hope that Singaporean investors will continue to operate in Binh Duong. The Singaporean Foreign Minister appreciated the timely measures taken by the Vietnamese Government, particularly the Prime Minister’s instruction on ensuring security and order to make Singaporean investors feel secure to stay in Vietnam.