VietNamNet Bridge – American senator Jim Webb, who recently submitted to the US Congress a bill related to the East Sea, will visit Vietnam from August 20 to 24.

The East Sea disputes will be one of the issues of discussion during the upcoming visit to Vietnam and Indonesia by the senator.

Vietnam is the last destination in the trip to four Southeast Asian nations of Senator Webb, after Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, scheduled on August 12-25. The US senator will meet with high-ranking officials, diplomats and businessmen in these countries.

The spokesperson of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, Nguyen Phuong Nga on August 11 confirmed the visit, which aims to boost Vietnam-US ties.

Jim Webb, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia, introduced a bill that would denounce China for the use of force and urge it to seek a peaceful resolution to disputes on June 13.

Senator Webb has expressed concerns over sovereignty issues in this region for more than fifteen years in and out of office. His first hearing upon assuming chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee was on maritime territorial disputes and sovereignty issues in Asia in July 2009.

Linh Thu