Le Dung, a spokesman for the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry made the comment in his July 17 reply to the Vietnam News Agency’s query on Vietnam’s reaction regarding the Moscow administration’s decision.

He said representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia had worked with relevant Russian agencies to deliver the country’s message of concern about the issue.

“Based on the two countries’ time-honoured friendship, we ask the Moscow administration and relevant Russian agencies to address the matter in a just and transparent manner to ensure the legitimate rights and interests, as well as the safety, of the Vietnamese people who are running business in the market along with their goods and assets,” Dung said.

He expressed hopes that Vietnam also hopes the Moscow administration will take practical supportive measures and provide favourable conditions to enable Vietnamese citizens to continue conducting their lawful businesses, if the Cherkirovo market closes.