In his opening keynote address at the 12th annual Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will highlight Vietnam’s foreign policy of peace, independence, self-control, diversification and multilateralization of international relations.

This year’s event will be attended by leaders, defense ministers and top security analysts from 10 ASEAN member nations and 17 others including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US, Russia, Canada, the UK and France.

In his speech, the PM will present Vietnam’s national defense and security policy for peace, stability and development cooperation in the region. He will also mention Vietnam’s stance on important regional issues, including peace, stability and maritime security in the East Sea. Dung will describe Vietnam as a country that is proactively integrating into the world as a reliable friend and partner of all countries.

At the three-day dialogue, attendants will debate the US approach to regional security, protection of national interests and conflict prevention, military modernization and strategic transparency.

They will also focus on China’s role in regional security, regional and global institutions and Asia security, and promoting defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Besides, specific meetings will be held in the dialogue framework to discuss solutions to conflicts at sea, new military technologies and doctrines, defense diplomacy and conflict prevention, and information network dimension and Asia security.

The annual Shangri La Dialogue, which was first held in 2002, is a venue for leaders, policymakers and scholars across the Asia-Pacific to discuss regional and global situations, strategic orientations for regional security, and measures to promote defense cooperation and enhance mutual understanding and trust.

The fact that PM Dung has been invited by the dialogue’s organizers to deliver an opening speech reflects the increasing appreciation of Vietnam’s role and position in the region and the world at large. This is also a good opportunity for the country to boost the implementation of its policy of active and proactive international integration.

During his stay in Singapore, PM Dung will also have meetings with high-ranking leaders of the host country to discuss ways to promote bilateral ties.

The two nations established diplomatic relations on August 1, 1973 and they are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their ties this year.