In his speech at Plenary Session 1 themed “Security Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability” on September 13, Giang emphasized that the Asia-Pacific region has truly become a global development hub, increasingly attracting the attention of countries from outside the region. However, the region still has complex hotspots that could potentially lead to conflicts. Therefore, to realize the desire and aspiration for a more prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific, he stressed the need to promote mutual understanding, respect, equality, and cooperative development among countries, with security cooperation playing a crucial role.

Giang affirmed that as a peace-loving nation that highly values international cooperation, Vietnam consistently adheres to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, and development cooperation, as well as multilateralism and diversification of foreign relations. It is a reliable friend and partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. The country also remains steadfast in its “four No’s” defense policy, which include not aligning with one country against another.

The Vietnamese Defense Minister made it clear that, like many other parts of the world, the Asia-Pacific region faces unresolved sovereignty and territorial disputes, particularly over maritime sovereignty. Vietnam is committed to resolving all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means, based on respect for independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of nations, while adhering to international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It rigorously implements international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and supports the establishment of clearer, more substantive, and more effective legal commitments such as the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which both ASEAN and China hope to finalize soon.

With the Asia-Pacific region’s allure as a dynamic and resource-rich area, it is witnessing an increased presence of countries from outside the region.

“We support the presence of countries in the region for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation, and development. We always hope that countries respect each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, adhere to international law and regional commitments to positively contribute to building a prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific. We do not accept and firmly opposes any actions that escalate tensions, complicate matters, or hinder the prosperity, stability, and well-being of each nation, the region, and the world,” said the minister.

Additionally, Giang also pointed out that non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, terrorism, transnational crime, natural disasters, pandemics, water security, and cybersecurity pose significant threats to nations, regions, and the world, requiring sincere cooperation and collective response.

“Vietnam is always willing to share with other countries and the international community and will make every effort to address non-traditional security threats,” the minister stated.

To effectively and substantively cooperate in addressing the complex traditional and non-traditional security challenges, Giang suggested that countries need to build relationships based on the principles of equality and the self-determination of nations, resolve disputes and disagreements through peaceful means, adhere to international law, and avoid threatening or using force in international relations.

To resolve security issues, major powers play a crucial role that needs to be fully promoted responsibly and effectively in practice, said the minister.

According to the minister, Vietnam will host the second International Defense Expo this December to mark 80 years of the Vietnam People’s Army. He expressed hope that countries and defense industry enterprises will continue to support and participate in the event.

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum themed “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future” opened in Beijing, China, on September 13, with the participation of defense ministers, military officials, experts, and scholars from various countries and international organizations.

In his congratulatory letter to the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century and the expectations of people around the world for security and stability, China has been practicing the Global Security Initiative, continuously consolidating consensus among all parties, promoting the elimination of the root causes of international conflicts, improving global security governance and making unremitting efforts to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.

He expressed the hope that the current forum will continue to uphold the spirit of equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning; foster broad consensus and deepen mutual trust; and make new and greater contributions to collectively addressing global security challenges and promoting the building of a human community with a shared future.