- Regular Press Briefing by MOFA’s Spokesperson on 08th October 2009

Regular Press Briefing by MOFA’s Spokesperson on 08th October 2009

THE 10TH REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCE
(Hanoi, 08th October, 2009)
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ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to the Western China International Trade Fair (Chengdu - China) (15-17 October 2009)

At the invitation of the Chinese Government and leaders of Sichuan Province and Chonqqinq City, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the 10th Western China International Trade Fair in Chengdu (Sichuan) and pay an official visit to Sichuan and Chongqing from 15 – 17 October 2009.
The visit is to promote economic, trade, investment, tourism, scientific and technological cooperation between Viet Nam and China in general and Viet Nam and the Western provinces of China in particular, thus deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

2. Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung to attend the 6th China-ASEAN Trade Fair in Nanning and visit Guangxi, China from 19-24 October 2009

At the invitation of the Chinese Government and the leaders of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung will attend the 6th China-ASEAN Trade Fair in Nanning and visit the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 19-24 October 2009.

This visit is to promote the cooperation in economic activities, trade, investment, transport and tourism between Viet Nam and China in general and between Viet Nam and Guangxi and Southwestern provinces of China.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Trade Fair, the China-ASEAN Summit on Investment and Trade, the roundtable between Vietnamese leaders and leading Vietnamese and Chinese CEOs, meet with Chinese leaders and leaders of Guangxi province. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung will also visit some economic, cultural and education facilities in the cities of Yulin and Guilin, Guangxi province.

3. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai’s official visits to Belarus, the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 14 – 24 October 2009:

At the invitation of the Governments of Belarus, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai will pay official visits to Belarus (14 – 16 October), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (17 – 21 October) and Republic of Ireland (21 – 24 October).
The visits aim at reviewing the implementation of the agreements concluded between Viet Nam and these countries, exchanging views on ways and means to boost the economic, trade, investment relations, thus driving the bilateral cooperation into an in-depth and effective framework.

4. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark to visit Vietnam from 1 – 9 November 2009:

At the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet, H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark will make an official visit to Viet Nam from 1 – 9 November 2009.
The visit aims at strengthening the close friendship between the two peoples, promoting the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economics, trade, investment, culture, education and tourism.

5. The official visit to Vietnam from 17th to 21st October, 2009 by Mr. Huang Hua Hua, Governor of Guangdong, China:

At the invitation of H.E Mr. Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Huang Hua Hua, Member of the CPC Central Committee, Governor of Guangdong Province will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 17-21 October, 2009.
This visit aims at strengthening the cooperation in economics, trade, culture, education and tourism between Guangdong and the ministries, agencies and provinces of Viet Nam.
Mr. Huang Hua Hua is expected to meet Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem, and attend the Zhung Shan City Goods Exhibition, and the Vietnam – Guangdong Business Forum. Mr. Huang Hua Hua will also visit some economic, trade and cultural facilities in Hai Phong City, Quang Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City.

6. The 10th General Assembly of the ASEAN Law Associations (ALA) (14-18 October 2009)

The 10th General Assembly of the ASEAN Law Associations (ALA) will be convened from 14-18 October 2009 in Hanoi. This is the first of such event in Viet Nam.

Themed as “ASEAN Charter – Taking ASEAN to New Heights”, the General Assembly will discuss such issues as the impacts of ASEAN Charter on the system of legal education in ASEAN countries, settlement of outstanding legal matters under the Charter, new developments in the 2004-2009 period in the legal systems of member states, assessment of investment laws of ASEAN countries, the progress of judicial reforms in ASEAN countries, and improvement in the enforcement of decisions by international trade arbitration in ASEAN countries.

At the 10th General Assembly, Viet Nam’s ALA National Commission will assume the ALA chairmanship for the first time.

Question and Answer:

Question: Please confirm on the information that “Viet Nam forced about 400 followers of the Plum Village to leave the Bat Nha Monastery, Lam Dong province”.

Answer:

First of all, I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely no such thing as ‘Viet Nam forced 400 Plum Village followers to leave Bat Nha Monastery.’ The information saying that there have been clashes between the authorities and the "monks" and "nuns" at Bat Nha Monastery, causing several wounded and many others detained, is totally false.

The fact is that from May 2008 to September 2009, a large group gathered in Bat Nha Monastery to practice under the Plum Village Zen tradition. They have previously been given permission by Ven. Thich Duc Nghi, the abbot of Bat Nha Monastery, to practice meditation at the monastery. However, Ven. Thich Duc Nghi then withdrew his permission and asked them to leave the monastery, returning the worship place to him. Ven. Thich Duc Nghi repeatedly asked them to leave the monastery but they insisted on staying there. This led to the disagreement between the Buddhist followers of Bat Nha Monastery and the followers of the Plum Village.

After the incident, the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha took the lead to resolve the issue. Accordingly, during the three months of Lent (An Cu Kiet Ha - Retreat) in the Buddhist tradition (from 8th May to 2nd September 2009), these Plum Village followers could stay on in Bat Nha Monastery. After this period, in order to end the dispute, they would have to move out. However, after the 3 month period, the Plum Village followers did not leave the monastery.

Greatly discontented with this situation, on September 27th 2009, a number of Bat Nha followers gathered at the monastery to pressurise the Plum Village followers to leave. This is the dispute between the two groups of Buddhist followers: the Bat Nha followers under Ven. Thich Duc Nghi’s abbotship and the Plum Village followers. The local authorities, under their mandate and power, have tried to maintain law and order to avoid clashes and ensure the absolute safety of citizens’ life and property. They also advised the Bat Nha followers not to do anything that could harm the dignity and body of the Plum Village followers. In the morning of September 28, all Plum Village followers left the Bat Nha Monastery. Some returned to their residences or former places of religious practice. At present, some 194 Plum Village followers still take temporary residence in Phuoc Hue Pagoda. There is no such threatening towards these people at Phuoc Hue pagoda as quoted in some pieces of news.

It is the unchanged policy of the Vietnamese State to respect the freedom of religion and belief. The Vietnamese State always provides every favourable condition for religious organisations to practice in accordance with the registered programmes and contents as well as the local regulations on social law and order. The followers of Plum Village organised the meditation course in the Bat Nha Monastery without permission from the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha and the competent authorities. The Plum Village followers who came to practice meditation also failed to register their temporary residence in accordance with Vietnamese law. This violates the regulations on administrative procedures of Viet Nam, the rules and the Charter of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha. They are advised to return to their former residences or pagodas to continue their religious practice. When they arrive in new places, they must observe the regulations of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha and Vietnamese law.

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