Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich delivers the first remarks at the third plenary session themed “Shaping Asia’s Evolving Security Order” on the second day of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. (Photo: VNA)Singapore (VNA) – Independence, self-reliance,promotion of cooperation and observance of international laws are fundamentalto security, peace and development, said Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich at the17th Asia Security Summit or Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore onJune 2.
Lich made the statement while delivering the firstremarks at the third plenary session themed “Shaping Asia’s Evolving SecurityOrder.”
Traditional and non-traditional security threats,including territorial disputes and terrorism, are clearly visible, posing realand imminent risks to stability of Asia-Pacific, he noted.
“The best way for parties involved to settle their disputes is to employpeaceful means and diplomatic dialogues without the use of force, the threat touse force or unilateral actions.”
He suggested that to resolve complex security issues,each nation must decide its own destiny but at the same time, they also needfair-minded support from the international community, particularly majorcountries, towards the common benefits.
The states must develop mutual trust through consultation, exchange ofinformation, high-level visits, and joint activities between armed forces. Mostimportantly, each of them must promote policy transparency to demonstrate thegoodwill and determination to fulfill their commitments and obligations.
Furthermore, each country should expand and diversifydialogue mechanisms and regional and inter-regional cooperation in politics,defence and security, and economics, he emphasized.
They should study the development of a new mechanism to support involvedparties in the settlement of disputes and security issues, especiallycomplicated matters like those in the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea and theEast Sea, with respect for each nation’s sovereignty and international law andon the principle of non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs, theVietnamese Defence Minister said.
He moved on to highlight ASEAN as a successful modelfor cooperation and connectivity between small and medium-sized countries inthe regional security architecture. ASEAN has played a vital role in shapingthe security structure and maintaining peace and stability in Asia-Pacific.
The official reiterated that Vietnam is consistent andsupportive of a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the East Sea onthe basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He underlined the observance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea (DOC) alongside the conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC) to build strategic trust between ASEAN and China and showdetermination to develop a regional security order based on international law.
He stressed that Vietnam believes any act violatingother nation’s sovereignty or militarization or military reinforcements areinconsistent with international law and run counter to regional commitments.Instead, the involved parties need to demonstrate their responsibility toobtain a maritime order so that the East Sea can truly be a water of peace,cooperation and friendship.
The 17th Shangri-La Dialogue – an important securityforum in the Asia – Pacific opened in Singapore on June 1, gathering over 500senior defence officials and scholars from more than 50 countries andterritories.
The Vietnamese delegation to the event is led by Defence Minister General NgoXuan Lich and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s ArmySenior Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Minh.
The agenda includes five plenary sessions on USleadership and the challenges of Indo-Pacific security, De-escalating thecrisis in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Shaping Asia’s evolvingsecurity order, New dimensions of terrorism and counter-terrorism and Risingthe bar for regional security co-operation.
The event also features severalsessions covering such issues as new strategic technologies and the future ofconflict, maritime security enhancement, strategic implications of militarycapability development in the Asia-Pacific and the management of competition inregional security cooperation.
Convened by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, theShangri-La Dialogue is the most important regular gathering of defenceprofessionals in Asia-Pacific, a vital annual fixture in the diaries ofministers and their civilian and military chiefs of staff.
Since its launch in 2002, the dialogue has built confidence and fosteredsecurity ties by facilitating easy communication among the region’s mostimportant defence and security policymakers.-VNA
