The statement was made in Hanoi on November 24 by Luong Thanh Nghi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s reaction to China’s expression of willingness to join ASEAN to discuss the COC, at the recent 19th ASEAN Summit.

“Peace, stability, security, navigational safety and freedom in the East Sea are in the common interest of all regional countries that need to solve disputes through peaceful means and with respect to international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said Nghi.

Commenting on reports by the Chinese press on November 22 that the Transport Department of Hainan province approved a local company’s launch of tourism services to the Hoang Sa Archipelago, Nghi reiterated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.