(VOVworld) - Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of protecting and promoting people’s fundamental rights. The spokesperson for Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Le Hai Binh made the statement on Monday in response to reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s reaction to the US State Department’s 2016 Annual Human Rights Report.

Spokesperson for Vietnam's Foreign Ministry Le Hai Binh

Binh said Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in this regard have been internationally recognized. He said Vietnam is ready to dialogue frankly, openly and constructively with other countries including the US on remaining differences. Vietnam and the US have held 20 rounds of annual dialogues on human rights. The US State Department’s report acknowledges some of Vietnam’s achievements in protecting human rights but makes some biased statements on the situation in Vietnam. In response to reporters’ question relating to China’s arrangement of illegal tours of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and a Chinese coast guard vessel chasing a Vietnamese fishing ship in Hoang Sa archipelago, Binh said Vietnam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. He said Vietnam resolutely opposed to China’s illegal acts and requested China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and international law, immediately stop and not repeat those activities, in order to make constructive contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.