(VOVworld)- The Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation (VPDF) released a statement in Hanoi on Sunday protesting against China’s illegal deployment of an oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation stands determinedly against such actions by China, and demands that China immediately withdraw the drilling rig and all escort ships from the area and enter into negotiations to settle related disagreements. China should put an end to and not repeat such actions in the future. Ms Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice State President, is President of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation. She said: “For every country, sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacred. Peace and stability among nations require respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The VPDF supports the position and efforts of the Vietnamese Government to defend its lawful sovereignty by peaceful means and persistently promote negotiations on the basis of observance of international law, especially the UNCLOS, the DOC, and the agreements between senior leaders of the two countries. The VPDF calls upon people cherishing peace and justice in the world to raise their voice asking China to respect international law and Vietnam’s lawful sovereignty, and put an end to unilateral actions threatening peace, stability and security in the region”.