Peaceful East Sea consensus reached

HA NOI — Viet Nam and China concluded working-level negotiations on marine issues on Monday, reaching a consensus to solve East Sea issues through peaceful measures.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement in Ha Noi yesterday in response to reporters' questions on the seventh round of negotiations on the agreement of basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Viet Nam and China.

"After seven rounds of negotiations, the two sides have reached a preliminary consensus on a number of issues, such as solving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Nga said.

She added that the two sides also agreed to strictly follow the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), not to launch any action to complicate disputes and not to use force or threaten the use of force. Issues related solely to Viet Nam and China would be solved bilaterally, while those issues related to other parties should be put into discussion with the parties concerned.

"The two sides agreed to hold the next round of negotiations later in the year, and a concrete timetable will be set through diplomatic channels," the spokesperson said. — VNS