Vietnam welcomes all initiatives to maintain peace in the East Sea.

In 2014, the regional and world situation had many fluctuations, posing many challenges for the diplomatic sector.

How to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for development, while maintaining the independence and territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland against the storms in the East Sea, and protecting the legitimate rights of Vietnamese citizens abroad...

These are the contents shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh in the program "People ask - Ministers answer" on January 4.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. Photo: VNA

Assessing the outstanding results of the diplomatic sector in the past year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said that last year, the world and the region experienced many complex changes, strongly impacting the security and development of Vietnam.

There were times when we faced the most serious challenges in many years. In that context, the foreign affairs activities of the Party, State and people were carried out actively, positively and effectively, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, taking advantage of favorable international conditions for development and continuing to enhance Vietnam's position in the international arena.

Video clip of "hot" questions of the diplomatic sector in 2014 answered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh in the program "People ask, Minister answers"(Source: VTV)

In terms of political diplomacy, if in 2013, Vietnam established a framework for relations with many important partners, in 2014, we have promoted it well, bringing these relations into depth, effectiveness and substance. We have maintained our territorial sovereignty in the East Sea, and won the sympathy and support of world public opinion for Vietnam's just stance. On the other hand, we have made efforts to stabilize relations with China and promote cooperation.

Economic diplomacy has contributed to overcoming the consequences of economic instability, promoting growth by actively supporting market expansion, attracting investment and ODA with specific results: the EU increased ODA for the 2014-2020 period to 400 million Euros, South Korea signed a 12 billion USD MOU with us to develop infrastructure; Japan and we upgraded our relationship to a deep strategic partnership and committed 120 billion Yen in ODA for 5 infrastructure and energy projects; we also basically concluded FTA negotiations with South Korea, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union...

Faced with the complicated developments in the East Sea, how has the diplomatic sector contributed to protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland while maintaining relations, stability and peace for development?

Responding to this question, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stated: "Protecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" and "maintaining relations, stability, and peace for development" are two goals that are not contradictory but mutually supportive and complementary. There cannot be stable and peaceful relations without independence and territorial integrity, and independence and territorial integrity can only be protected on the basis of stable and peaceful relations.

The key to pursuing both goals is upholding and complying with international law. Because respecting international law means strictly implementing the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and disagreements.

That is why, over the past year, even in the most tense times, we have persistently engaged in dialogue and resolved the issue of territorial sovereignty in the East Sea by peaceful means in accordance with international law; at the same time, we have proactively maintained normal relations in all aspects with China, including exchanges of delegations at all levels, relations between ministries, branches and localities, people-to-people exchanges, and normal implementation of economic and trade cooperation activities with China.

In 2015, we will continue to work with ASEAN and the international community to enhance understanding and trust in the East Sea issue, promote the serious and full implementation of the DOC, especially early conduct of substantive negotiations to build a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC). We also welcome all initiatives and proposals for the common goal and benefit of maintaining stability, freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, turning the East Sea into a sea of ​​peace, friendship and cooperation, and Vietnam will continue to proactively and actively contribute to the formation and implementation of those initiatives.

Regarding assistance for some workers exported to Saudi Arabia to do housework, forced to work beyond the time specified in the contract, in some cases not being paid, even being abused...,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh emphasized: Protecting Vietnamese workers abroad is an issue of special concern to our Party and State. Clause 3, Article 17 of the 2013 Constitution states: “Vietnamese citizens abroad are protected by the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.” Article 9 of the 2009 Law on Representative Agencies also clearly states: “Vietnamese diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad are responsible for providing support and protection to the Vietnamese community in the host country.”

Immediately after receiving information that a number of Vietnamese workers, especially female domestic workers under contract in Saudi Arabia, were facing difficulties, and in some cases were reported to be mistreated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately directed the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently implement protective measures with a number of specific actions.

With the local authorities, the Embassy staff directly discussed and requested intervention. With the workers, the Embassy sent people to directly meet, visit, and learn about the situation and the wishes of the women. With the labor dispatch companies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to request these companies to increase their responsibility, work with individuals and organizations using labor in Saudi Arabia to ensure the legitimate rights of the workers; request humane treatment and satisfactory resolution of the workers' difficulties.

Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directly directed the repatriation of workers in difficulty according to their wishes; on December 29, 7 out of 20 workers from Bac Kan province working for Bader company returned home and on December 31, the last 13 workers returned to Hanoi.

The important issue here is that companies sending our workers abroad must ensure strict compliance with labor contracts, ensuring maximum benefits for our workers abroad. Women must clearly understand the terms of the labor contract before going to work, and especially the labor departments at our embassies abroad must provide advice to workers.

Regarding ensuring the safety of Vietnamese people living in war hotspots such as Libya and Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that in 2014, in some areas where many Vietnamese people live, wars and conflicts broke out, endangering the safety and lives of Vietnamese citizens. In Ukraine, among the 10,000 Vietnamese community, more than 300 people were affected in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.

In that situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed our Embassy in Ukraine to set up a 24/7 duty mode, always monitor and keep abreast of the situation, proactively develop plans to evacuate Vietnamese citizens in dangerous areas. The Embassy has published on mass media recommendations and warnings for citizens not to travel to eastern Ukraine; and requested citizens to immediately contact the Embassy for necessary support and protection when encountering difficulties.

In addition, to ensure the normal life and activities of the people, the Vietnamese Embassy also regularly provides direct support to the community; mobilizes associations and organizations in the community to help people stabilize their business; resolve travel and study documents for people, and at the same time, take advantage of the good political relationship between the two countries to request the government of the host country to ensure the safety of life and property of Vietnamese citizens.

Taking advantage of the bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin on the sidelines of the 69th United Nations General Assembly (September 2014), I asked the Ukrainian Government to pay attention to and ensure the safety and security of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine, especially in war zones. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister promised to create favorable conditions and ensure the legal rights of Vietnamese people living in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly directed the Vietnamese Embassy to evacuate all Vietnamese citizens from the war zone in eastern Ukraine and to have a plan ready to respond when necessary.

According to Vietnam+