Prague (VNA) - Czech experts on August 11 appreciated the speechthat Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had delivered at the virtual UNSCHigh-level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case forInternational Cooperation” two days ago.

As maritime security is a global issue drawing more andmore attention from the international community, and PM Chinh’s speech clearlydemonstrated Vietnam’s role and position in the international arena,contributing to protecting and strengthening maritime security for peace,stability and development in the region and in the world, according to them.

Dr. Takashi Hosoda, an expert on Vietnam and the Asia-Pacificfrom the Czech Republic’s Charles University, said that the speech isconsidered an important milestone for the relations between Vietnam and Indiabecause the Prime Minister of India - the rotating Chairman of the UN SecurityCouncil - was the one who takes the initiative to organise, and also presidesover the UNSC meeting.

Vietnam and India play increasingly important roles inensuring the maintenance of maritime security in the East Sea and theIndo-Pacific as well as resolving issues related to peace and security in the region.The two countries also share many strategic similarities, so it is veryimportant for Vietnam to intensify cooperation with India, Hosoda stated.

He spoke highly of the proposals made by the VietnameseGovernment leader to contribute to solving maritime security challenges,especially the need for the international community to raise awareness of theimportance of maritime security as well as threats to marine security.

To that end, the expert suggested Vietnam make specificcontributions within the bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks,including the cooperation mechanisms between the European Union (EU) and Asiancountries such as the EU Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO).

In that spirit, Vietnam needs to focus on improving its capacityof maritime and air patrols and the research of maritime vessels, take the leadin raising awareness of maritime security in ASEAN through bilateral and multilateralcooperation mechanisms, and strengthen its role in connecting countries interestedin maritime security, he added.

Dr. Jan Hornat, an Indo-Pacific expert from CharlesUniversity, held that the Vietnamese PM’s speech shows the country’s active andproactive engagement in ensuring maritime security – the current hot issue ofthe international community. This helps enhance Vietnam’s position in the worldarena, especially in maintaining order in international waters based on the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Meanwhile, Alex Svamberg, a journalist specialised onAsia-Pacific security, commented that PM Chinh’s speech reflectsVietnam’s wish to ensuring a regional environment of stability and endingunilateral actions violating international law in the East Sea.

According to Svamberg, the EU is showing its increasing interest in ensuring maritime freedom in the East Sea – one of the importantinternational maritime routes.

The Czech journalist held that proposals given by theVietnamese PM showed Vietnam’s policy of settling the East Sea issues throughpeaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the UNCLOS1982, and ensuring maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea throughmultilateral solutions for peace, stability and development in the region andthe world. This is an approach receiving support from the internationalcommunity, Svamberg said./.