Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Lê Hải Bình at a regular press conference in Hà Nội yesterday. — Photo hanoimoi.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s representative agencies in the Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Malaysia have been working to provide protection services for Vietnamese nationals in the countries as reported by Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Lê Hải Bình during a regular press conference in Hà Nội yesterday.

Regarding the death of a Vietnamese worker in the RoK, Bình said the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK has contacted the company employing the worker right after being informed by competent Korean agencies. The relevant companies said they will cover part of the funeral expense, he said, adding that the bereaved family came to the RoK Embassy in Việt Nam to complete necessary procedures for the repatriation of the deceased.

On the case pertaining to a pregnant girl in China, who is said a Vietnamese, the spokesman said personal information around her has yet to be clarified. Bình said representatives of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Shanghai on Wednesday had a working session with police of Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, and directly met with the girl for more details. However, the girl can speak a little Vietnamese and her Chinese is not good, he said, adding that the Consulate General is co-ordinating with competent agencies at home to get further information. Việt Nam’s representative agencies have also kept a close watch on the case, he added.

Asked about the 26 Vietnamese women out of 41 others rescued from a brothel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bình said the Vietnamese Embassy in the country will clarify the information about the women who were assumed to be victims of human trafficking. Suitable measures will be taken to protect the Vietnamese citizens, he said.

IAEA regulations

Also yesterday, Bình said countries building and operating their nuclear power plants need to comply with the Convention of Nuclear Safety and relevant regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They must work to ensure that their plants do not affect the environmental safety of their neighbouring countries, the diplomat said.

In the conference, reporters raised queries on how Việt Nam ensures safety for locals in areas near China’s three nuclear power plants which lie close to the border shared with Việt Nam. The plants were put into operation recently as reported by Chinese media.

“Việt Nam has asked the Chinese side to soon work together on a mechanism for regular exchanges of information on those plants,” said the spokesperson.

No foreign military base allowed in Việt Nam

Việt Nam does not allow any countries to establish a military base in the country, Bình said.

He made the statement in response to queries about Russian media reports that the country was considered returning to Cam Ranh port in Việt Nam’s southern province of Khánh Hòa.

He reiterated that Việt Nam pursues a consistent policy of not joining any military alliance nor allying with any country to act against a third country, making it clear that all statements by the ministry on the issue remain unchanged.

“Việt Nam upholds the external policy of independence, self-reliance, co-operation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, and extensive global integration, as well as developing co-operation with all partners on the basis of mutual benefit for peace, stability, co-operation and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.”

The comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Russia is growing strongly, as are the relations with other major partners in the world, he stated.

Việt Nam wants India, Pakistan to settle issues by peaceful means

Việt Nam wants India and Pakistan to settle existing issues in their bilateral ties by peaceful means, Bình said.

He made the statement in response to reporters’ queries about Việt Nam’s stance on the recent developments on the border between the two countries.

Bình said that the countries should act to meet the aspirations and interest of the two people, and contribute to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world. — VNS