General Ngo Xuan Lich, Vietnamese Minister of National Defense, has highlighted several important factors in the maintenance of regional peace and security during this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue.

Minister Lich delivered the first remarks at the third plenary session themed ‘Shaping Asia’s Evolving Security Order’ on Saturday, as part of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue, which takes place at the namesake hotel in Singapore from June 1 to 3.

Independence, self-reliance, cooperation, and observance of international laws are fundamental to security, peace, and development in the region, the Vietnamese official stressed.

Traditional and non-traditional security threats, including territorial disputes and terrorism, are posing real and imminent risks to stability of Asia-Pacific.

The best way for relevant parties to settle their disputes is to employ peaceful means and diplomatic dialogues without the use of violence, threat of use force, or unilateral actions, he stated.

All countries should develop mutual trust through consultation, exchange of information, high-level visits, and joint activities between armed forces, while expanding dialogue mechanisms and cooperation in politics, defense and security, and economic matters.

Hanoi consistently supports the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the East Vietnam Sea, respecting the international law, namely the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

He underlines the importance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) alongside the conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the maritime area.

Launch in 2002, Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's annual premier defense summit, a unique meeting of ministers and delegates from over 50 countries across the world.

This year’s 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 Rising the bar for regional security co-operation. 

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