Shangri-La Dialogue: Vietnam affirms self-reliance, cooperation, obedience to international law
(VOVWORLD) - The 17th Shangri-La Dialogue – an important security forum in the Asia – Pacific began official meeting on Saturday in Singapore. The agenda includes five plenary sessions on US leadership and the challenges of Indo-Pacific security, de-escalating the crisis in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, shaping Asia’s evolving security order, new dimensions of terrorism and counter-terrorism and raising the bar for regional security co-operation.
 Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich delivered a speech at the 3rd plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue (Photo: qdnd.vn) |
Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich stressed independence, self-reliance, cooperation, and obedience to international law as a foundation for security, peace, and development. Being the first speaker at the 3rd plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr. Lich pointed out traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including territorial disputes and terrorism, posing risk to the Asia-Pacific region. Minister Lich called on concerned parties to be involved in negotiations to settle disputes peacefully instead of confrontation, threatening the use of force, or taking unilateral acts.
Mr. Lich praised ASEAN as a successful role model for regional security cooperation and connectivity between medium and small countries, playing in increasingly important role in common efforts. He said ASEAN has helped shape security structure and ensure peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Minister Lich once again reiterated that Vietnam unswervingly support the settlement of disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. He urged for compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and prompt formulation of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.