
Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation led by Politburo member andpermanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuongattended a round-table conference of Russia – ASEAN political parties on June 29 via a videoconference.
Initiated by theUnited Russia Party, the event took the theme “The Roleof Russia and ASEAN’s Responsible Political Forces in Strengthening theArchitecture of Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific”.
Speaking at the event, Thuong said theAsia-Pacific lies in a location of geographically strategic importance. Thoughpeace, cooperation and development remain a major trend, the region is facingtraditional and non-traditional security challenges.
To cope with them,countries need to enhance collaboration on the basis of placing peace,stability and development in the region as the highest principle and goal,settling differences by peaceful means, preventing conflicts and ensuring thateach country’s interests must be suitable with the common interests of thecommunity, he said.
He highlighted a needto foster understanding and build trust via dialogue and consultation. Onissues of concern in the region and the world such as the East Sea, he calledfor upholding the principles of abiding by international law and the UnitedNations Charter, strengthening trust and exercising self-restraint, preventingactions that could complicate the situation, refraining from the use of forceand threat to use force, and settling disputes by peaceful means.
The shaping andbuilding of regional architectures need the involvement and joint actions ofparties concerned, including upholding ASEAN’s central role, especially viamechanisms initiated and led by ASEAN, he said.
Thuong shared Vietnam’sconsistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperationand development, multilateralisation and diversification of internationalrelations; treasuring traditional friendship with neighbour countries,strategic, comprehensive and other important partners; actively and proactivelymake responsible contributions at multilateral mechanisms; contributing to steppingup the process of dialogue, cooperation and building trust initiated and led byASEAN.
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) highly valuesties with the United Russia Party, he stated.
Leaders of partiesunderscored a need to reinforce Asia-Pacific security architecture andcooperation based on principles of abiding by international law, respectingeach other, not interfering into internal affairs and settling disputesby peaceful means.
They expressed appreciationfor Russia – ASEAN ties, and vowed to enhance coordination in enviromentprotection, sustainable development, dealing with non-traditional securitychallenges, ensuring fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
They also underlined aneed to foster international inter-party collboration to further deepenpolitical and socio-economic ties between Russia and ASEAN, and supportedcommon efforts to over๊come global challenge✱s and deal with regional issues./.