Vietnam has asked Myanmar to ensure safety and interests of Vietnamese individuals and businesses in the country, Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Soldiers at a checkpoint in Mandalay, Myanmar on February 2. Photo: AFP/Vietnam News Agency

Speaking at a press conference on March 11, Hang said the Embassy of Vietnam in Myanmar is keeping an eye on the state of around 600 Vietnamese nationals in Myanmar, giving timely warning and citizen protection measures when needed.

Some hotlines have been made available all day to serve the mission.

“We express deep concern about the escalating violence and casualties in Myanmar over the past few days. Vietnam calls for utmost restraint and peaceful solutions through dialogues and hopes that the situation to soon return to normal as expected by and for the interests of Myanmar’s people,” Hang emphasized.

Hang went on to say that Vietnam will continue working with ASEAN member states to seek solutions for Myanmar issues amid deadly violence caused by the early February coup.

“Vietnam supports dialogue and reconciliation in Myanmar to build and develop the country, for peace, stability and cooperation in region, contributing to the building of ASEAN Community,” Hang said.

She said Vietnam shared ASEAN joint stance on the situation that was announced in the Chair Statement on Myanmar developments on February 1 and the Chair Statement on the non-official meeting among regional foreign ministers on March 2. The statements stressed the need to comply with ASEAN Charter

Regarding international efforts for solutions of the Myanmar coup, on March 10, the UN Security Council issued the Presidential Statement calling for all parties to exercise utmost restraint for practical reconciliation. But the 15-member council failed to reach consensus on the situation, giving no joint statement so far.