(VOVworld) - Vietnamese Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang has updated the press about major foreign affairs events, including the Vietnam-US political, security, and national defense dialogue on Thursday and Friday in Hanoi.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang

She responded to the US optimism about the finalization of Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiation with Vietnam by the year-end: “For Vietnam, the TPP is one step to implement Vietnam’s comprehensive and in-depth international economic integration to promote national economic growth. Vietnam is working actively with TPP members to ensure an early finalization of the negotiation as agreed by senior leaders. Negotiation has been accelerated and entered final stages while negotiators are narrowing their differences in a constructive manner for mutual understanding and interests. We expected the upcoming round of talks in New York from January 23 to February 2 to bring about major progress to conclude the negotiation as soon as possible.”

The deputy spokeswoman reiterated Vietnam’s view on China’s upgrade of islands in Vietnam’s continental shelf and special economic zones: “We have sufficient legal and historical grounds to confirm our sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. Vietnam resolutely objects and demands China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and seriously implement the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea by immediately stop its construction which destroys the status quo in Truong Sa archipelago and not to repeat similar wrongful acts.”

She said Vietnam denounced the inhuman and brutal acts against civilians and supported international efforts to fight against terrorism in any forms.