Singapore (VNA)♕ – Maintaining stability in a competitive world is a prerequisite and indispensable condition for building a world of peace, stability, cooperation, and development, said Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang.

Giang was delivering a keynote speech at the second plenary session themed “Ensuring stability in a competitive world”, as part of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 30 – June 1. He highlighted several key issues, including adherence to the United Nations Charter and international law and respect to the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of all nations, regardless of their size. This principle should be regarded as a foundation in addressing international disputes. To maintain international peace and security and foster friendly relations among nations, he said the UN Charter outlines fundamental principles, including the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the renunciation of the threat or use of force in international relations. These are also the core principles of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and its "Four No’s” national defence policy. On the East Sea issue, Vietnam remains consistent and steadfast in resolving all disputes through peaceful means, in strict adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said, adding that Vietnam is fully committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), looks forward to the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). These aim to help preserve peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. The minister also urged building strategic and political trust. Countries should be open, candid, sincere and transparent in sharing defence policies, he said. He encouraged sharing viewpoints and enhancing dialogues to address issues in a constructive manner, while launching practical and effective cooperation mechanisms, both bilateral and multilateral. Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of actively engaging in and supporting international mechanisms and being a responsible member, with the aim of maintaining stability and fostering cooperation, he said. At the regional level, Vietnam continues to play an active and responsible role within ASEAN. Vietnam hopes that countries will support efforts to uphold ASEAN’s centrality, enhance its capacity for self-reliance and resilience, and contribute to peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world, he added. He noted that countries must foster international cooperation in addressing non-traditional security threats.

While traditional security challenges have yet to be fully addressed and in some areas are growing even more complex, non-traditional security challenges such as natural disasters, pandemics, climate change, water security, food security, terrorism, drug-related crime and human trafficking have emerged with increasing complexity and unpredictability. Collaboration against non-traditional security issues will have a positive impact on efforts to tackle traditional security challenges, he said. On the sidelines of the dialogue on May 31, Giang held bilateral meetings with Dr. Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, as well as defence leaders from Singapore, New Zealand and the US to discuss enhancing defence coordination and addressing mutual interests./.