The Hanoitimes – Congressman John Kline was leading a House delegation to visit Vietnam, aiming to seek and expand cooperation among the two legislative bodies and peoples.
The US backs Vietnam in its struggle for territorial defence and hopes that parties concerned soon reach peaceful, diplomatic solutions for the situation, in line with international law.
John Kline, Chairman of the US House Committee on Education and Labour, made the statement at a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in Hanoi.
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.
China on May 1 illegally installed its floating rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Its flotilla deployed to escort and protect the rig rammed Vietnamese vessels, injuring sailors and damaging their property.
Defying Vietnam’s request to withdraw the rig, China even moved the platform to a new location still inside Vietnam’s territorial waters and dispatched more vessels to intimidate Vietnamese boats.
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.
He revealed that the US wants to accelerate Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations with Vietnam and strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields.
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.
Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung thanked the US Congress and many other peace-loving people in the world for supporting Vietnam in the struggle, in order to promote peace, security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, including the East Sea.
Hanoitimes
Đăng ký: VietNam News
