Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday in Hanoi, Hang said: “Actions taken by Vietnamese competent authorities strictly adhere to Vietnamese law and international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Vietnam makes every effort to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the South China Sea in accordance with international law including the 1982 UNCLOS. We call for all countries within and outside the region to make substantive and responsible contributions to this matter."

Also at the press conference, Hang said following the phone talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on January 13, goods congestion at border gates has been settled. Relevant agencies of Vietnam and China have maintained close contact to settle the goods congestion at border gates amid the complicated COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries set up working groups to maintain bilateral trade while safely, effectively containing the pandemic.