(VOVworld)- The 15th Shangri-La Dialogue has ended in Singapore amidst numerous security challenges and reduction of strategic trust between nations. At the event, Vietnam participated in several discussions to stress the importance of peace, national interests and responsibility in creating peace.
Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh |
The Shangri-La Dialogue is the most important security forum in the region, attracting the participation of Defense Ministers and officials and scholars. The 15th Shangri-La Dialogue attracted the largest ever number of experts and scholars. In the last 15 years, the dialogue has served as a venue for diplomats and defense officials to share their views and find ways to ensure regional security.
National interests harmonize with those of other countries
The 2016 Shangri-La dialogue’s ultimate goals were to seek ways to reduce tensions in the East Sea and address problems in settling disputes. Discussing these two issues, Vietnam introduced practical solutions which were praised by other countries.
At the special session on controlling tension in the East Sea, Vietnam stressed the need to seek tools to minimize collisions at sea which include establishing a hot line, reaching consensus on a code of conduct in dealing with emergencies, and conducting joint patrols by naval and law enforcement forces of ASEAN countries. At the plenary session on problems in settling disputes, Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said cooperation should be combined with competitive negotiations to address the region’s security challenges: “All countries need to combine cooperation and competitive negotiations to settle disputes and prevent conflicts. We need to increase cooperation to boost our growth, build trust and respect each other’s legitimate interests. We need to promote competitive negotiations to find a common voice in settling disputes and differences. But any cooperation or competitive negotiation needs to be based on equality and respect for international law which is the foundation for addressing disputes and reducing conflict. It’s important to pursue peaceful means and not use or threaten to use force”.
Upholding respect for law
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, DOC, COC and East Sea were the most-used words. All countries want to settle disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law including the Declaration on the Conduct in the East Sea, the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam insisted on the importance of upholding international law in settling disputes. Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said: “Vietnam’s consistent point of view is to settle the East Sea issue by peaceful means on the basis of international law. In the current complicated situation, Vietnam is implementing this policy by affirming its sovereignty. Vietnam opposes all declarations that differ from Vietnam’s sovereignty claims which are backed by historical evidence and conform with international law”.
Vietnam stresses the importance of interpreting and implementing the commitments correctly. Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said different interpretations of international law lead to incorrect implementation of the law. He said Vietnam objects to any interventions that might lead to conflicts or an arms race. Vinh said that in the face of increasing instability in the region, no country is an “outsider”.