Vietnam hopes that the US will have a stronger voice and take more practical actions to contribute to peace, stability, security, and maritime safety in the region, and to settling regional disputes in line with international law.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh was responding to a question from a Washington Times correspondent on the US’s role in supporting Vietnam in protecting its sovereignty.

Maintaining peace, stability and security, and maritime safety in the region is the interest and responsibility of all parties concerned in the region and beyond, Binh told an international press conference in Hanoi on June 5.

In recent years, he said together with the international community, the US – a global power and a powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region – have raised their voice, contributing to peace, stability and maritime security in the region, and to settling the current tensions.

Answering a question from Japan’s Kyodo news agency correspondents, Binh welcomed the Group of 7 leaders’ June 4 statement, in which the leaders of the seven industrialised nations expressed their deep concern about the recent tensions in the East and East China Seas.

They voiced their opposition to any unilateral attempt by any party to assert its territorial or maritime claims through the use of intimidation, coercion or force.

“We do hope foreign countries and international organisations will have a strong voice and take practical actions to contribute to peace and security in the region, and to handling disputes in accordance with international law,” Binh said.

Regarding the use of the hotline between Vietnam and China to settle the territorial dispute in the East Sea, Binh said the hotline can only operate effectively when both sides show goodwill towards each other and desire to deal with the case peacefully.

Vietnam has made every effort to hold dialogue with China, but when goodwill comes from one side only, the hotline and efforts come to nothing, he said.