Beijing (VNA) – Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan VanGiang delivered a keynote speechat the first plenary session of the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum onOctober 30, highlighting cooperation and respect for international principles for peace andprosperity.

Thesession took the theme “Major Countries' Responsibility and Global SecurityCooperation”.

Giang said all nat♎ions aspire to have a comprehensive,interconnected, integrated, and harmonious security environment in all aspects,adding that the interests and security of countries, large or small,developed or developing, need to be understood, acknowledged and respected for peace and growth.

Understanding the value offreedom, peace and the impacts of the global security environment on regionaland national security, he said Vietnam always follows its consistent foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation anddevelopment, multilateralisation and diversification of relations,being a good friend and a trusted partner to all countries, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam alsosteadfastly follows its defence policy of peace and self-defence, notparticipating in military alliances or partnering with one country to fight against another, not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases in Vietnam oruse its territory against other countries, and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations, he said.

Through theBeijing Xiangshan Forum, other multilateral forum𒊎s on defence and security andUnited Nations peacekeeping missions, Vietnam has affirmed its active, proactiverole and high responsibility for global and regional issues. Vietnam'sbilateral defence cooperation with other nations is conducted openly,transparently, and in a manner that does not harm the interests of othercountries, he added.

To jointly realise the aspiration of building a world of peace,cooperation and prosperity, Giang emphasised that Vietnam wishes that allnations adhere to international law, respect independence, sovereignty,territorial integrity, and national interests of each other. Countries,especially developing ones, need to uphold "strategic autonomy,"respect diversity, uniqueness and specific conditions of each nation whilealways aiming for a unity and consensus in awareness, responsibility, andaction in the face of global security issues. Each nation should fulfill itscommitments, uphold its obligations to the international community, anddemonstrate a sense of responsibility. According to him, the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which is intalks with initial progresses, will not only address specific securityissues but also specify international laws, especially the 1982 UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea and the commitment of relevant stakeholders. On the occasion, Minister Giang heldbilateral meetings with his Lao and Cambodian counterparts, and ASEAN Secretary-GeneralKao Kim Hourn. He and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of NationalDefence Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath reviewed theresults of their past cooperation and proposed joint work in the time to come,including increasing the frequency of exchanges among young officers. Theybelieved that the upcoming first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border defence friendshipexchange, scheduled for December, will be a success. The Vietnamese and Cambodian defence ministers also shared theview that the two armies need to continue their cooperation, solidarity and strong bond, as they are an important pillar of the fineneighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and sustainablecooperation between the two countries. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao, for his part, wished that Vietnamwould continue making important contributions to ASEAN's cooperation mechanismsand the building of a united and prosperous regional community./.