Le Hai Binh, spokesman for the Vietnam Foreign Ministry
(VOVworld) – Le Hai Binh, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, on Thursday revealed to reporters Vietnam’s major diplomatic activities, including the 5th ASEAN sea forum and the 3rd ASEAN sea forum plus in Da Nang city from August 26-28. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh will attend the event. Mr. Binh said: "Vietnam’s hosting of the two forums shows its responsibility and active contribution to ASEAN’s top prioritized cooperative areas including in regional marine safety and security. Countries will discuss recent sea issues and cooperation in implementing the forum’s initiatives."
Regarding questions about Vietnam’s response to China’s live-fire drills in the Bac Bo Gulf from August 20 to September 3, the third in the East Sea, spokesman Le Hai Binh said the Chinese Department of Marine Affairs stated that the drills will be carried on China’s Laizhou archipelago. Vietnam expected that China, a member of the UN Security Council, will contribute responsibly to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Mr. Binh has strongly condemned cruelty acts against Vietnamese fishing boats operating legally in Vietnam’s waters. He was responding to reporters’ question on Thursday about Vietnam’s response to Vietnamese fishing boats from Ly Son Island operating in Hoang Sa whose assets and fish were destroyed and robbed by Chinese vessels. Binh said Vietnamese authorities are verifying the information but strongly denounced any inhuman acts against Vietnamese fishing boats operating legally in Vietnam’s waters. Regarding a Youtube video showing people shot dead in Fiji island’s waters, Binh said there was no Vietnamese fishing boats operating in Fiji. The Foreign Ministry has asked its Embassy in New Zealand cum Fiji to verify the information.