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Vietnam slams China’s East Sea fishing ban

Vietnam on April 29 rejected China’s unilateral fishing ban in waters that include parts of Vietnam’s Tonkin Gulf and Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands in the East Sea.

Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as the legitimate rights to its waters determined in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, said Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China recently announced it would ban fishing in the waters of the East Sea it has claimed, including the Gulf of Tonkin and Paracel islands, to conserve stocks, starting on May 1.

However, Viet told media workers at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press briefing that measures to conserve biological resources should be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of UNCLOS 1982 and must not do harm to the sovereignty or jurisdiction at sea of other related countries.

Vietnam resolutely rejects this unilateral decision of the Chinese side as it violates the country’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, and international law, including UNCLOS 1982, said Viet.

He also stressed that China’s move runs contrary to the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as the agreement on basic principles guilding the settlement of maritime disputes between Vietnam and China, as reported by VOV.

Vietnam-China joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf ends

The patrol forces of the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard on April 28 finished their first joint patrol on the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Tonkin Gulf between the two countries in 2021.

In a phone call with a representative from the patrol force of the China Coast Guard, Colonel Tran Van Tho, deputy commander, chief of staff of the High Command of the Coast Guard Region 1, and head of the Vietnamese patrol force, stressed that both sides had coordinated closely and well performed the approved plan.

The joint patrol has contributed to promoting the fine relationship between the two Parties, States and peoples in general and between the two coast guard forces in particular.

The two sides patrolled through 13 points in the demarcation line in the Tonkin Gulf. They conducted phone discussions, and checked and monitored one fishing vessel of China and three of Vietnam, and stepped up disseminations on regulations related to fishing and COVID-19 prevention and control, according to VOV.

US report on religious freedom not yet objective about Vietnam

Despite its acknowledgement, the United States’ 2021 annual report on religious freedom is yet to assess the situation in Vietnam in an objective manner, said Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Viet made the statement at a regular press briefing of the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on April 29 after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued its 2021 annual report, accusing Vietnam of continued violations of religious freedom.

According to the diplomat, currently an estimated 95% of Vietnam’s population follow religions and beliefs, of whom over 25 million are of different religions. In particular, more than 7 million people are Catholics and more than 1 million are Protestants.

In addition, the Vietnamese State always creates favourable conditions for followers and religious organizations to exchange and cooperate internationally. The country’s efforts and achievements in ensuring freedom of belief and religion for its people are widely recognized by the international community.

The deputy spokesperson noted that the 2021 report has acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts and positive progress in ensuring and promoting religious life in the country. However, it still has some unfair and biased content and assessment based on inaccurate information about the situation in Vietnam, according to VOV.

Vietnam, Costa Rica discuss boosting ties

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held online talks with Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Rodolfo Solano Quirós on April 29 to discuss specific ways to strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The two ministers agreed to facilitate the exchange of delegations and meetings at all levels and regularly and flexibly maintain deputy ministerial-level political consultation mechanisms between the two foreign ministries.

They explored the possibility of negotiations on bilateral cooperation agreements, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, and also considered expanding cooperation in climate change response, agriculture, green energy, maritime navigation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

(Photo: VNA)

The Costa Rican Minister congratulated Vietnam on adopting effective measures against COVID-19 and maintaining economic growth.

Both sides agreed to update information on the pandemic in each country, and to step up international cooperation efforts, including the effective production and distribution of vaccines.

On regional and global issues, they pledged to work closely together and offer mutual support at the UN and multilateral and inter-regional forums, including the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), VOV reported.

Health Ministry confirms three local infections cases

The Ministry of Health confirmed four new COVID-19 cases on Friday morning, bringing the national patient tally to 2,914.

The latest patients include three local infection cases (one in Ha Noi and two in Hung Yen Province), who had a party with patient numbered 2899 on April 22.

As reported earlier, patient 2899 is a 28-year-old man in Ha Nam Province. He was repatriated from Japan on April 7.

The man was quarantined in Da Nang City until April 22 when he returned to his hometown on April 22 after having tested negative for COVID-19 thrice.

(Bar chart: VGP)

On April 24, the man developed symptoms like cough, fever and throat pain and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on April 29.

The other patient is a 24-year-old woman who returned to Viet Nam on April 27 via Lao Bao border gate in the central province of Quang Tri.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving complicatedly in the region and the world, the Vietnamese Government called on authorities and individuals to sustain vigilance and uphold the sense of responsibility in COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Government also demanded preparations for the scenario of 30,000 COVID-19 infection cases in Viet Nam, as reported by VGP.

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