Hanoi , September 11 (VNA) – Vietnam welcomed the US Department of Agriculture’s move to grant import licences to a number of Vietnamese agricultural products, such as lychee and longan, Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Le Hai Binh said in a regular press briefing on September 11.
Binh acknowledged the decision as a contribution to the growing bilateral economic and trade links, adding that Vietnam hoped the US would consider licensing more high-quality agricultural imports from the Southeast Asian country in the future.
In response to questions on the 5 th meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group held in Hanoi from September 10-11, the spokesperson said the two sides agreed that issues of mutual concern had seen substantial progress, proven by the number of meetings held at all levels and the visit of the Vatican’s non-resident Special Envoy to Vietnam.
They decided to uphold dialogues, facilitate the Vatican ’s non-resident Special Envoy’s activities, and encourage Vietnam ’s Catholic community to follow Pope Francis’s teachings, he added.
The Vatican side said Pope Francis always closely followed the development of the Vietnam-Vatican relationship and acknowledged the progress made in terms of Vietnam ’s religious policies, as demonstrated by the 2013 revised Constitution, Binh noted.
He stressed Vietnam continuously safeguarded faith and religious freedom of its people and supported the Vietnam Catholic Church in actively participating in socio-economic development and the nation building process.
Regarding China ’s illegal construction on Gac Ma (Johnson South) island in Vietnam ’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, spokesperson Binh emphasised that Vietnam had sufficient legal and historical proof to assert its sovereignty over this archipelago.
Unilateral action intending to change the status quo in this area violated Vietnam ’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and complicated the East Sea and regional situation, he added.
When asked about the recent anti-Vietnam demonstrations in Cambodia, Binh said Vietnam continuously called upon the Cambodian authorities to implement measures to prevent illegal actions inconsistent with the traditional friendship between the two countries./.
Binh acknowledged the decision as a contribution to the growing bilateral economic and trade links, adding that Vietnam hoped the US would consider licensing more high-quality agricultural imports from the Southeast Asian country in the future.
In response to questions on the 5 th meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group held in Hanoi from September 10-11, the spokesperson said the two sides agreed that issues of mutual concern had seen substantial progress, proven by the number of meetings held at all levels and the visit of the Vatican’s non-resident Special Envoy to Vietnam.
They decided to uphold dialogues, facilitate the Vatican ’s non-resident Special Envoy’s activities, and encourage Vietnam ’s Catholic community to follow Pope Francis’s teachings, he added.
The Vatican side said Pope Francis always closely followed the development of the Vietnam-Vatican relationship and acknowledged the progress made in terms of Vietnam ’s religious policies, as demonstrated by the 2013 revised Constitution, Binh noted.
He stressed Vietnam continuously safeguarded faith and religious freedom of its people and supported the Vietnam Catholic Church in actively participating in socio-economic development and the nation building process.
Regarding China ’s illegal construction on Gac Ma (Johnson South) island in Vietnam ’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, spokesperson Binh emphasised that Vietnam had sufficient legal and historical proof to assert its sovereignty over this archipelago.
Unilateral action intending to change the status quo in this area violated Vietnam ’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and complicated the East Sea and regional situation, he added.
When asked about the recent anti-Vietnam demonstrations in Cambodia, Binh said Vietnam continuously called upon the Cambodian authorities to implement measures to prevent illegal actions inconsistent with the traditional friendship between the two countries./.
By VNA/VNP
