Responding to reporters’ questions at the ministry’s regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said that, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela, Vietnamese citizens living, studying and working in the country remain safe following a series of strong earthquakes.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on June 25 sent a message of sympathy to Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez following the June 24 earthquake, which caused serious loss of life and property.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, who recently paid an official visit to Venezuela, also conveyed his condolences directly.
Based on the traditional friendship between the two countries, Viet Nam stands ready to provide appropriate support to Venezuela. The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela is continuing to work closely with local authorities to monitor the situation and take timely measures to support and protect Vietnamese citizens if needed.
Vietnamese citizens requiring emergency assistance were advised to contact the embassy’s citizen protection hotline at +584242674447 or the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 citizen protection hotline at (+84) 981.84.84.84.
Regarding the fire at Sadovod market in Moscow, the spokesperson said several Vietnamese business households were affected.
Immediately after the incident, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia sent staff to the scene and coordinated with the market’s management board to assess the situation, offer support and prepare timely assistance measures for those affected. So far, affected Vietnamese traders have been able to resume business activities.
Concerning the June 16 cassation hearing in France involving the lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga against 14 US chemical companies over Agent Orange/dioxin, Hang reiterated Viet Nam’s support for the victims.
Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said that although the war has ended, its severe consequences continue to leave deep and lasting impacts on Viet Nam and its people, including serious long-term effects on victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
She reaffirmed Viet Nam’s support for efforts by Agent Orange/dioxin victims to demand that chemical companies which produced and supplied the toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Viet Nam take responsibility for settling the consequences.