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Submitted by ctv_en_4 on Thu, 07/13/2006 - 19:00
Vietnam has ample historical evidence and a legal foundation to affirm its sovereignty and legal rights over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as other waters and continental shelves of Vietnam, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on July 13.

Mr Dung made the statement in response to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s reaction after China’s national surveying and mapping bureau posted on the Internet and allowed the public to download “politically correct” maps, including those of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Vietnam wants to solve any differences through peaceful negotiations on the basis of respect for international laws, the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, the 1992 Manila Declaration on the East Sea, and the Declaration on Conduct (DOC) in the East Sea signed between ASEAN and China on November 1, 2002.”

“We think that while waiting for negotiating efforts to seek basic and long-term solutions, concerned parties should maintain stability in the principle of status quo and not take any action to complicate the situation,” said Mr Dung.

Regarding the upcoming round of multilateral negotiations on Vietnam’s entry to the WTO, Mr Dung said Vietnam is co-operating closely with the Working Party on Vietnam’s accession to the WTO and the WTO Secretariat to finalise the round and other necessary procedures so that the country can join the WTO at the earliest, if possible.

The 13th round of multilateral negotiations, scheduled for July 20, is expected to focus discussions on the complete content of the Working Party’s report and pending issues.

Vietnam will inform the participants of its law-making process, including the approval of new laws by the National Assembly since the 12th round in March 2006. It will answer WTO members’ queries if requested.

According to Mr Dung, there are few pending issues between the two sides because Vietnam has resolved almost all issues raised by WTO member countries during meetings in the framework of WTO negotiations.

Vietnam will do its utmost, and at the same time, hopes that its negotiating partners, particularly potential partners, will take into account the country’s socio-economic situation and its efforts in the negotiation process, to accept Vietnam’s offer and no longer put forward complicated requests to create conditions for the country to complete the round and join the WTO early, said Mr Dung.

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