China warns citizens in Vietnam after protests over economic zones

The Chinese embassy in Hanoi warned its citizens of security after protests against a government plan to set up new economic zones for foreign investment.

The embassy posted a notice on its website referring to the protests as "illegal gatherings" that had included some "anti-China content".

"The Chinese embassy in Vietnam is paying close attention to the relevant developments and reminds Chinese citizens in Vietnam to pay attention to security when traveling," the notice said.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of the Assembly, said the protesters might have misunderstood the nature of the bill.

"People should stay calm, believe in the decisions of the party and the state, especially in the fact that the National Assembly is always listening to the people's opinions when discussing the bills," Ngan said.

Vietnam's National Assembly, the country's top legislature, agreed on Monday not to adopt the draft Law on Special Administrative and Economic Units of Van Don, Bac Van Phong, and Phu Quoc at its ongoing fifth session.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the Government Office on Saturday released an announcement, saying it had asked the National Assembly to delay the approval of the draft law to have more time for research and completion until the next session, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Special cases, that could lease land up to 99 years for production and business in the three special economic zones of Van Don in northern Quang Ninh province, of Bac Van Phong in central Khanh Hoa province, and of Phu Quoc in southern Kien Giang province, will not be regulated in the bill.

The decision was made after the National Assembly and the government took into account many aspects of the issue which caught interests and gathered a lot of ideas from local legislators, people of all walks of life and voters nationwide.

At the ongoing fifth session, legislators, scientists, economists, experts and constituents actively contributed their opinions to the draft law.

More than 100 protesters were arrested and dozens of police injured at protests against the creation of new special economic zones in central Vietnam on Sunday, Reuters reported.