Vietnam’s external policy gives priority to citizen protection

Vietnamese Ambassador visits fishermen in Indonesia's Natuna island (Photo: VNA)

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement at a regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry on March 25 in reply to reporters' questions concerning measures to protect overseas Vietnamese in the context of discrimination against Asians in the US and some other countries.

According to the spokesperson, representative agencies of Vietnam in foreign countries and domestic authorities maintain close coordination to carry out citizen protection measures to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens abroad.

The Vietnamese Government and related ministries and sectors have regularly requested other nations’ governments and competent agencies to ensure the safety of and create conditions for overseas Vietnamese to live, work, and study so that they could make practical contributions to socio-economic development in the host country and to the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and countries worldwide, she emphasized.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received information from competent agencies about Indonesia’s recent detainment of two Vietnamese fishing vessels and their crewmembers from the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ms. Hang said.

On March 18, the ships, coded BV4419TS and BL9333TS with 20 and 12 people onboard, respectively, were captured by Indonesian competent agencies while fishing in the area at the Vietnam – Indonesia boundary line at sea. Vietnamese maritime forces have requested the Indonesian side to release the fishermen and their vessels.

Right after receiving the report, the ministry has directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia to contact local competent agencies asking for verification and information related to the case. The embassy has also been directed to conduct citizen protection measures if necessary, she said./.