Vietnam attends 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum

ABO/NDO – A high-ranking military delegation of Vietnam is taking part in the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum that opened in Beijing on October 21.

General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, delivers a speech at the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum (Photo: VNA)

The forum, themed “Maintaining International Order and Promoting Peace in the Asia-Pacific”, attracts hundreds of defence and military leaders, along with experts from many countries and organisations around the world.

Addressing a plenary session on security risk management in Asia-Pacific, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, said there are many latent complex and unpredictable factors in the political and security environment of the region which pose a number of security challenges and risks, both traditional and non-traditional.

To manage well security risks in Asia-Pacific, he called on all countries to uphold the rule of law and mutual respect in international relations as well as in the settlement of disputes and differences, enhance powers’ sense of responsibility, bring into play the role and effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms in building trust and managing security in the region, and resolve disputes by peaceful means in the partnership spirit and for the responsibility towards the community.

Regarding the East Sea situation, Minister Lich emphasised Vietnam’s stance of supporting and protecting the freedom of passage, security, and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in line with international law.

Vietnam persists with the policy of resolving the East Sea issue by peaceful measures in line with international law and practice, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said.

He stressed that Vietnam pledges to, together with other countries, strive to foster cooperation so as to build the East Sea into an area of peace, stability and development, for the sake of all countries in and outside the region.

In his speech, the official also affirmed that the security and stability of China and ASEAN countries are inseparable. Therefore, the two sides have always respected and bolstered cooperation in all spheres, with defence and security being important pillars.

(Source: NDO)