Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung announced this on Mar. 21 when replying to a correspondent’s question about the country’s reaction to the BP Group’s decision to cease exploring for oil and gas in blocks 05.2 and 05.3. 

“As far as we know, BP is negotiating with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group about its intention to stop exploring for offshore oil and gas,” Dung said.

He also confirmed that the two blocks lie within Vietnam’s economic privilege zone and continental shelf, and fall completely within the country’s sovereign territory and jurisdiction.