The UK has followed with interest the developments in the East Sea as well as matters related to freedom of navigation in the area, outgoing UK Ambassador Antony Stokes has said.

He was speaking while bidding farewell to Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai on July 14.

Stokes said the UK’s consistent stance is all parties involved must respect international law and ensure maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea.

Hai thanked the UK as well as the European Union for raising their voice against China ’s provocative act of illegally placing its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in early May.

He spoke highly of Stokes’ effective contributions to the promotion of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, expressing hopes that in the future, the diplomat will continue supporting Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.-VNA