Spokeswoman reiterates top priority given to safety of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine

At the regular press briefing of the Ministryof Foreign Affairs held on March 17, Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang reaffirmed that ensuring security and safety for the lives and assets of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine is the top priority of the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam.

According to Le Thi Thu Hang, when the Ukraine situation recorded tense developments, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 201/CD-TTg, dated February 26, 2022, on the protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities, and some issues needing attention in the face of the Ukraine situation.

Recently, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has continually held phone talks with his counterparts of Russia, Ukraine, and Romania, sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of Poland, and received the relevant countries’ ambassadors to Vietnam, asking for their assistance in guaranteeing maximum security and safety for Vietnamese citizens and their families and to create conditions for repatriation flights, according to Hang.

Spokeswoman reiterates top priority given to safety of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine -0

Amid extremely fast and complex developments of the situation in Ukraine, Vietnam’s ministries, sectors, and representative bodies in related countries have exerted all-out efforts to promptly arrange repatriation flights for Vietnamese people and their families, and help them deal with issues emerging and complete necessary procedures for bringing them home in a shortest period of time, with transparency ensured and priority given to the elderly, pregnant women, children, patients, and people with disabilities, the spokesperson said.

Hang informed that so far, five flights have been conducted, safely repatriating about 1,400 Vietnamese people and their family members who wish to return to Vietnam.

Hang also said certain problems have arisen during the citizen protection process, such as some people changed their mind and chose to go in their own ways, or wanted to wait for the war to end to come back to Ukraine. Others lacked or lost necessary papers, or their papers were out of date, needing support from the representative agencies. 

Vietnam’s representative bodies have made utmost efforts and worked closely with authorities and Vietnamese people’s associations in the host countries to address those problems, continually update information and swiftly handle emerging issues to quickly evacuate the expatriates from war zones, and safely bring them to Vietnam.

Efforts by domestic authorities, overseas representative bodies, airlines, and business sponsors have won over support and high evaluation from both the expatriates and people in Vietnam, Hang added.

Spokeswoman reiterates top priority given to safety of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine -0
Photo for illustration.

Regarding the suspected cashew nut export scam to Italy, Hang has spoken about actions taken by the Government to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese enterprises in 

On March 14, the Prime Minister had directed ministries and sectors to urgently coordinate with the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) to examine and clarify the reasons of the case with a view to taking measures to assist businesses and people involved, and ensure their interests.

Immediately after receiving Vinacas’ notice on the suspected scam, the Ministry of Foreign Affair (MoFA) directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy to contact owners of the ships transporting the cashew nuts. The embassy also sent officials to Italian cities of Genova and Napoli to verify the information.

The embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development, police, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and other competent agencies, requesting a quick investigation into the case and necessary measures taken to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese enterprises.

According to the spokesperson, the embassy and the Vietnamese Trade Office in Italy have talked to the involved Vietnamese businesses and the Vinacas to discuss specific solutions. They suggested the exporters contact the international economic court and the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre to ask for their intervention in stopping the delivery of goods to the suspicious buyers, hence minimising losses for the Vietnamese firms.

Hang said following the direction of the Prime Minister, the MoFA will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to shed light into the case, actively support domestic enterprises in solving it, and ensure the maximum safety for transactions between Vietnamese and Italian enterprises in the time to come.

Vietnamese exporters are at risk of losing hundreds of millions of USD in the suspected cashew nut scam in which they have not received any payment as agreed for the shipment of 100 containers of cashew nuts to Italy.

By L.B

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.