(VOVworld)- The Vietnamese Embassy, other Vietnamese representatives in Egypt, and the Vietnamese community in Egypt on Saturday organized a meeting to show their support to the Vietnamese Party and government in the struggle to defend national sovereignty. They strongly denounced China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung said Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty is sacred and inviolable and that Vietnam strongly condemned China’s illegal placement of oil rig Haiyang 981 on Vietnam’s continental shelf. The Ambassador said that with its goodwill, Vietnam has several times contacted China demanding the latter to end its violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty. Chung said:“China’s actions threatened the peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has clarified Vietnam’s viewpoint affirming that Vietnam is considering all possible measures to resolve the issue in line with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as principles and agreements signed between ASEAN and China. Sovereignty is sacred and Vietnam would not exchange sacred sovereignty for quixotic friendship and then depend on it”.

Representatives from the overseas Vietnamese community in Egypt expressed strong support for Vietnamese law enforcement in the East Sea and pledged assistance if required. Also on Saturday, large numbers of Vietnamese expatriates, including students, international friends held a march in Zurich city, Switzerland, to oppose China’s illegal action in the East Sea. They gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, criticizing China’s oil rig placement in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.  They upheld banners asking China to abide by international law, condemning China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.