MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' SPOKESMAN MR. LE DZUNG
ANSWERS QUESTION ON 07th  June 2009

On June 7, in his reply to questions by correspondents regarding Vietnamese MOFA’s exchange with PRC Embassy requesting that the Chinese side refrain from conducting activities hampering normal fishing by Vietnamese fishmen, the MOFA Spokesman stated:

On June 4, MOFA Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son held an exchange with PRC Ambassador to Vietnam Sun Guoxiang, drawing the latter’s attention to the fact that recently the Chinese side ordered a fishing ban in some sea areas in the Eastern Sea including those under Vietnam's sovereignty and increased patrol ships, made more arrests of and fines in these areas. The Deputy Minister was of the view that these acts had affected normal fishing activities by Vietnamese fishmen in Vietnam’s traditional fishing grounds. They have caused discontent among the public and do not serve the interest of bilateral relations between the two countries. He requested that the Chinese side refrained from any activites preventing normal work by Vietnamese fishmen in the sea areas under Vietnamese sovereignty. The Chinese Ambassador promised to report to his capital the Vietnamese request.