Vietnam is doing all it can to assist foreign reporters flocking to Phu Quoc Isalnd in the southern province of Kien Giang to cover the ongoing search for the ill-fated MH 370 flight that went missing four days ago, said Deputy Transport Minister Pham Quy Tieu.

In addition to access to the search and rescue command stations and press conferences, journalists are also allowed to accompany search teams during their missions.

Cheang Ka Chi from a Macau radio station expressed appreciation of the support of the local authorities, who provided reporters with the latest information about the Vietnamese search effort, and praised local search and rescue forces for their dedication to the mission.

The Foreign Ministry’s Department of Press and Information has so far received requests of support from over 90 foreign correspondents from over 25 global press outlets, including Xinhua, Kyodo, Reuters and AP.

It is also working closely with Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, especially those in China and Malaysia, to issue entry visas to reporters.

In coordination with the Ministries of National Defence and Transport, the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Affairs, and the southern provinces of Ca Mau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Kien Giang, the department has made it easier for them to access search areas and hold interviews.

In another move, Kien Giang province is ready to welcome relatives of the lost passengers while calling for the greater involvement of local fishermen in the search.

The Foreign Ministry set up a response team which will be on 24-hour standby, helping foreign media acquire the latest information.-VNA