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China’s illegal oil rig placement negatively affects ties

VGP – Viet Nam always attaches importance to nurturing and enhancing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China but China’s illegally placement of the oil rig in Viet Nam’s waters negatively affects the bilateral ties.

June 18, 2014 9:15 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Ha Noi, June 18, 2014 - Photo: VGP

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh made the statement during his talks with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Ha Noi on June 18.

China’s move also seriously violates international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); threatens maritime security and safety, peace and stability in the region; hurts the sentiments of the Vietnamese people.

Deputy PM, FM Minh reiterated Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa as well as the country’s sovereign right and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf prescribed by the UNCLOS to which both Viet Nam and China are the signatories. 

The Deputy PM, FM demanded China immediately withdraw the rig and escort ships from Viet Nam’s waters, control the situation to avoid conflicts and join talks to settle the current tension as well as other divergences between the two countries in line with international law.

Yang affirmed that Chinese Party, State and people attach importance to developing the friendly relations with Viet Nam; agreed that both sides need to soon stabilize the situation in the East Sea, exercise restraint to avoid conflicts.

Both sides agreed to continue maintaining the cooperative mechanisms between ministries, agencies and localities and organize the 7th meeting of the steering committee for bilateral cooperation./.

By Quang Minh