Defense minister emphasizes significance of security cooperation at Beijing Xiangshan Forum

Addressing the first plenary session under the theme "Security Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability," Phan emphasized that Asia-Pacific is truly a development center of the world, increasingly attracting the attention of countries outside the region.

However, in the region there are still complex flash points, which can become the source of conflict. Therefore, to realize the desire and aspiration for an increasingly prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific, Phan stressed that mutual understanding, mutual respect, equality, and cooperation for development among countries, in which security cooperation plays an important role.

As a peace-loving country which always treasures international cooperation relations, Viet Nam consistently pursues the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of relations, being a friend, trusted reliable, and active and responsible member in international community.

The country is steadfast in its "Four No's" defense policy, including no siding with one country against another. It is always sincere, loyal, respectfully preserves and develops traditional friendly relations with countries and partners, the Vietnamese defense minister said.

He went on to say that like many places around the world, in the Asia-Pacific region, sovereignty and territorial disputes, especially sovereignty at sea, remain challenging.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Viet Nam persistently resolves all problems and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of countries; complies with international law, especially the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, strictly implements international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); supports the formation of more effective, substantive, and legally-binding commitments such as the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that ASEAN and China are looking forward to signing soon.

With rich potential and dynamic development, the Asia-Pacific region is witnessing an increase in the presence of countries outside the region. Given the backdrop, Phan reiterated Viet Nam's support for the engagement of countries in the region for the purpose of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

He said that Viet Nam always hopes that countries respect respective independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and respect international law and regional commitments to actively contribute to building a prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, Viet Nam does not accept and resolutely opposes all actions that increase tension and complexity, hinder prosperity and stability of each country, the region and the world.

Noting that non-traditional security challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, transnational crimes, disasters, epidemics, water resources security, cyber security are really big to each country, the region and the world, the Vietnamese minister laid stress on the joint efforts and cooperation of countries.

Viet Nam always shares with countries and international community, always exerts utmost efforts and stays ready to join hands in responding to non-traditional security challenges, affirmed Phan.

Looking forward to the future, Phan suggested that countries need to develop cooperative relations on the basis of respecting the principles of equality and self-determination of peoples, resolving disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, complying with international and regional laws and commitments, and not threatening to use force or using force in international relations.

The Vietnamese minister underlined that major countries play a very important role in cooperation to address security issues, adding that such role should be promoted in full, responsible and effective fashion.

Informing that this December the Ministry of National Defense will host the second Viet Nam International Defense Expo on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam People's Army, Minister Phan expressed his hope that countries and defense industry enterprises would continue supporting and participating in the event.