Vietnam will never join any alliance to go against other countries, but it will resolutely defend its legitimate interests, State President Truong Tan Sang said in his speech delivered at the Koerber Institute in Germany on Thursday.

The delivery of the speech, which focused on security in the Asia-Pacific region, was a part of President Sang’s visit to Germany from November 24 to 26 at the invitation of his German counterpart Joachim Gauck.

Peace and development are the common interests of all countries in the region so running against these interests is pushing history back, President Sang told the audience, including German parliamentarians and leading researchers of the German Government and major economic groups in Germany.

“The Asia-Pacific region should have a comprehensive and effective regional security structure built upon the fundamental principles of international law,” he said.

He affirmed that Vietnam steadfastly pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization, being a friend, a trustworthy partner of all countries and a responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam welcomes all policies beneficial to peace, security and development in Asia Pacific, consistently does not ally with any countries to act against others, and resolutely struggles to protect its legitimate interests, the Vietnamese leader underlined.

He called on regional countries to respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and interests while taking responsible action and settling disputes and territorial conflicts, including East Vietnam Sea issues, by peaceful means through dialogue and in accordance with international law as well as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

President Sang hailed Germany’s key role in global security and development and highly valued the Koerber Institute’s contributions to world peace, cooperation and understanding, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The Vietnamese leader asked the parliamentarians, experts, and researchers to continue fostering the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership and the ASEAN-EU relationship by making initiatives and studies in the common interests of humanity, including peace, stability and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region and Europe, the news agency said. 

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!