US Congressmen visit Vietnam
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on June 3 welcomed a delegation from the US House of Representatives, headed by Congressman John Kline.
At the meeting in Hanoi, Chairman Hung stated that Vietnam treasures its ties with the US and is determined to implement signed agreements in the spirit of the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, for the interests of the two peoples, and for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
Regarding the East Sea situation, Hung stressed that China’s illegally placing of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf is seriously violating Vietnam’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, infringing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
China’s actions are threatening stability in the East Sea as well as maritime and aviation activities in and over international waters, and worrying regional countries, he added.
The NA leader affirmed that the viewpoint of all Vietnamese people is to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territory on the basis of international law, while demanding China withdraw its rig from Vietnam’s waters.
He also expressed thanks to international communities, including many US parliamentarians, for their backing of Vietnam’s stance on this issue.
For his part, Kline said that his delegation’s visit aims to seek and expand cooperation opportunities between the two countries’ parliaments and people.
The US wishes to further strengthen bilateral trade ties and will actively speed up negotiations of a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement with Vietnam.
The guests raised their deep concerns over China’s provocative acts in the East Sea, saying that they wish the parties involved will settle the situation through peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law.-VNA
