(VOVworld)-Vietnam holds that ASEAN countries’ consultation about the East Sea issues is a normal and regular practice to promote peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi

Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi was responding to reporters’ question on Vietnam’s response the Filipino hosting of a meeting in Manila between ASEAN members who claimed sovereignty in the East Sea on December 12. He told the press during a regular briefing in Hanoi on Thursday that the practice aims to promote peaceful settlement of disputes based on international laws, including the UN 1982 Convention on the law of the sea, the declaration of conducts of parties in the East Sea, the ASEAN 6-point principle and the recent declaration marking the 10^th anniversary of the DOC.

In related news, Nghi said that Vietnam protests against the new Chinese ordinary e-passports printed with the image of the 9 dash line showing Beijing claim over the East Sea:"This action by China has violated Vietnam's sovereignty to the Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes as well as our sovereign rights and jurisdiction to related maritime areas in the East Sea. The Foreign Ministry has sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy asking China reverse their incorrect content".

Regarding the recent ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, Nghi said that Vietnam is deeply concerned with the violence which killed hundreds of people, many of them women and children. Vietnam condemned all attacks causing civilian casualties, welcomed efforts to reinstall peace and stability in the region and urged related parties to stick to their ceasefire agreement.