Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Việt Nam Lê Thị Thu Hằng at the press briefing. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng would return to work as normal soon, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng said on Thursday.

“The leader’s health had been affected by his heavy workload and the changing weather,” she added.

She made the statement during the ministry’s regular press briefing in Hà Nội yesterday in response to reporters’ questions.

Questioning

In response to questions regarding Đoàn Thị Hương's role in the murder of a man holding a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) passport with the name of Kim Chol in Malaysia, Hằng said Việt Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had co-ordinated with relevant agencies, the Việt Nam Bar Federation and the Embassy of Việt Nam in Malaysia to implement all necessary citizen protection procedures for her to return home after she was released. 

Malaysia’s Shah Alam High Court (MLS) on April 1 sentenced Hương to three years and four months imprisonment for causing injuries using dangerous means, instead of the initial charge of murder. The penalty was calculated starting from the time she was arrested on February 15, 2017. 

According to Japan’s Kyodo News, Hương’s lawyer Naran Singh on April 13 said she would be released on May 3. 

Cuba row

Reporters at the briefing also sought Việt Nam’s stance on the US’s increasing embargo on Cuba. 

The spokesperson said Việt Nam wanted the US and Cuba to maintain constructive and co-operative dialogues. Việt Nam also wanted the two countries to solve their differences and promote bilateral ties, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.

“Việt Nam’s consistent policy is strongly supporting the United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions asking the US to end policies and laws that impose economic, trade and financial embargoes on Cuba."  — VNS