Monday, 26/05/2014 11:56 (GMT+7)
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A meeting in Egypt (Source: VNA) |
The Vietnamese community in Egypt joined a meeting on May 24 in protest against China’s installment of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam ’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone since early May.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung, in his speech, accused China of seriously violating international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its agreements with ASEAN in the settlement of East Sea issue.
He made it clear that Vietnamese at home and abroad, and many countries around the world have vowed to side with Vietnam during its fight. They also called on China to withdraw its rig and escort vessels out of Vietnam’s waters without delay.
The Party and State will steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty in tandem with maintaining an environment of peace, stability and national development, Chung assured them.
In a letter signed at the event, the Vietnamese expressed solidarity with Vietnamese people at home, especially law enforcement forces, vowing that they are willing to offer a helping hand whenever they are needed.
The same day, crowds of Vietnamese and Swiss people took to the streets in Zurich, Switzerland, raising banners asking China to abide by international law.
In a letter sent to the Chinese Consul General in Zurich, they requested the Chinese government pull its rig and ships out of Vietnam’s waters right away, and said that the dispute should be settled via diplomatic channels.
Earlier on May 21, hundreds of Vietnamese students and their foreign friends gathered at a square in front of the United Nations Office headquarters in Geneva, voicing their disapproval of China’s provocations./.