VN asks Laos to review
impacts of hydropower dam
Thứ sáu, ngày 09 tháng 11 năm 2012 cập nhật lúc
04:12
Concerns
over the proposed dam has also led to Viet Nam asking Laos to perfect the
designs for the dam.
Vietnamese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement at a regular
press briefing in Ha Noi yesterday when answering a question about Viet Nam's
stance on the construction of Xayaburi dam in Laos.
Nghi
added that he hoped Laos will work with Viet Nam, Cambodia and Thailand in
conducting careful and comprehensive research on the cumulative impacts on the
environment, economics and society of all hydro-power plants expected to be
built on the Mekong River.
He
added that Viet Nam expressed its viewpoint on taking the general management and
sustainable development of the river into consideration while building
hydro-power plants on the Mekong River at its discussions with Laos and
International Mekong River Commission member countries.
The
fair and reasonable exploitation and use of natural resources, especially water
from the Mekong River, is of significance, and it is important to ensure the
sustainable development of the Mekong River basin for the common benefits of
riverside countries and locals living in the area, said Nghi.
In
another announcement, Nghi said that Viet Nam and China presented and exchanged
views on priority projects of co-operation in marine environmental protection,
marine research, search and rescue missions, and natural disaster prevention at
the second round of negotiations on less sensitive fields at sea in Ha Noi from
November 6-8.
The
negotiations were in accordance with the common perceptions of high-ranking
Vietnamese and Chinese leaders stipulated in the Viet Nam – China agreement on
basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues signed on October 11,
2011, said Nghi.
The
two sides agreed to assign expert teams to conduct research and contribute
preliminary opinions on these priority projects which are scheduled for further
discussions at the next round of negotiations in early 2013.
Responding
to a reporter's question on whether Viet Nam would raise the East Sea issue
during the 21st ASEAN Summit and related meetings, Nghi said leaders of the
ASEAN member countries would discuss various issues including those related to
the maintenance of regional peace, stability and security during those
events.
He
underscored that together with other member countries, Viet Nam, as an active
and responsible member of ASEAN, would strive to maintain and consolidate the
association's spirit and operational principles, and at the same time exert
efforts to further strengthen the central role of the bloc for peace, stability,
security, co-operation and development in the region as well as the world at
large.
Nghi
also responded to another question that in light of Viet Nam's high ratio of
trade turnover with China, did the country want to increase trade with other
countries by expanding negotiations for free trade agreements
(FTAs).
He
replied saying that Viet Nam hoped to integrate extensively and comprehensively
with the world, focusing on international economic
integration.
He
said that Viet Nam had already signed FTAs with many partners including ASEAN as
a whole, and joined the association's FTAs with Japan, the Republic of Korea
(RoK), China, India, New Zealand and Australia.
Viet
Nam had also reached a FTA with Chile and an economic partnership agreement
(EPA) with Japan. It was also negotiating FTAs with many other partners such as
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs
Alliance, the European Union, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA which
includes Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland), and the
RoK.
Nghi
highlighted that strengthening trade ties with other countries was a core basis
that had helped the country implement its socio-economic development strategy up
until 2012.
PV
— VNS
For more information:
http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=54&ID=122603&Code=QP3I122603
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