Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh made a public apology yesterday involving a case which found an official car from his ministry had picked up a relative in a restricted area at Nội Bài International Airport last Friday.

In an open letter posted on the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s portal yesterday afternoon, Tuấn wrote: “As the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, while family members are involved, I would like to make a public apology for allowing this to happen.”

“Through the media, kindly allow me and my family to apologise to passengers on flight VN262 on the evening of January 4, 2019. In particular, I apologise to the people, to the leaders of the Party, State and colleagues in the industry and trade sector.”

Tuấn explained that due to being in active treatment at Bạch Mai Hospital’s Department of Cardiology, he couldn’t formally respond to the case earlier.

“I consider this a profound lesson for individuals, families and the Ministry of Industry and Trade,” he wrote, adding he would  review the whole case to make sure no similar incidents would happen in the future.

On Friday evening, a number of media agencies received reports from two National Assembly deputies about a car with blue plates designated for use by government officials in a restricted area at Nội Bài International Airport.

According to a representative of the Northern Airports Authority (NAA), the above-mentioned car belonged to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and was sent with a written request to enter the restricted area in the airport to pick the minister himself up from a business trip to HCM City.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade registered for two cars to welcome the minister, including the official car.

However, witnesses said that Minister Trần Tuấn Anh was not on the flight from HCM City to Hà Nội that day and the car actually picked up a woman, who was later confirmed to be the minister’s wife. — VNS