China expresses on Monday strong dissatisfaction with the first tourist activities to the Nansha islands organized by Vietnam.

 

"Vietnam made this move disregarding China's repeated representations and firm opposition," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in response to a question on Vietnam's tourist activities to Nansha Monday.

 

Kong said Vietnam's tourist activities infringe on China's territorial sovereignty, violate the consensus reached between China and Vietnam, and break the commitments set forth in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between China and the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 

The move leads to a complication of the situation in the South China Sea and will do no good to resolving disputes, Kong said.

 

"We again urge the Vietnamese side to honor its commitments and immediately stop taking any action that may further complicate the situation so as to keep peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Kong.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2004)