General Phan Van Giang attends the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum

On the morning of September 13th, the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum officially opened in Beijing, China. The high-level delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, led by General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence, attended and delivered an important speech at the first plenary session, focusing on the theme "Security Cooperation and the Prosperity and Stability of the Asia- Pacific Region".

Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang attends the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. - Photo: People's Army Newspaper

With the main theme "Building Peace Together, Sharing the Future Together," the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum attracted the participation of leaders from the Ministries of Defense and the military, as well as experts and scholars from many countries and international organizations. The forum included four plenary sessions: Security Cooperation and Prosperity in the Asia- Pacific Region; Multipolarization and the Changing International Order; The Southern Hemisphere and Peaceful Development; and International Mechanisms in Global Security Governance. In addition, eight special discussion sessions took place concurrently.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony. In his opening remarks, General Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of China, affirmed that the theme of the Forum reflects China's commitment to cooperating with other countries to seek solutions for peace and common development.

General Dong Jun emphasized that all nations share a common responsibility in maintaining global security, and that major powers need to cooperate with other countries to address regional and international issues. He also called for resolving conflicts through dialogue, building consensus, and pursuing peace for global stability.

To achieve sustainable security and peace, General Dong Jun highlighted five key aspects: shared responsibility, shared development, solidarity, cooperation in facing challenges, and promoting common security. China is committed to strengthening cooperation and exchanges to build trust and promote regional and global security.

In his speech at the first plenary session, Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized that the Asia-Pacific region has become an important development center of the world, attracting increasing attention from countries outside the region. However, he also warned about the existence of complex hotspots that could become causes of future conflict. Therefore, to achieve the goal of prosperous and stable development, Minister Phan Van Giang suggested that countries in the region need to promote mutual understanding, respect, equality, and cooperative development, especially in the field of security.

The Minister affirmed that Vietnam, as a peace-loving nation that always values ​​international cooperation, is steadfast in pursuing its foreign policy of "independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, and cooperative development, multilateralism, and diversification of relations." Vietnam is committed to being a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community. At the same time, Vietnam adheres to its "four no's" defense policy, not aligning with one country against another, and remains sincere and loyal in preserving and developing traditional friendly relations with its partners.

Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized that, similar to many other regions in the world, the Asia-Pacific region still faces intractable disputes over sovereignty and territory, especially at sea. Vietnam is steadfast in resolving all disagreements through peaceful means, respecting the independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of nations, and adhering to international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam is also committed to strictly implementing international agreements, including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and supports the establishment of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) with clear and effective legal commitments, which ASEAN and China are working towards signing.

The Asia-Pacific region, with its strong development potential, is attracting increasing attention and presence from countries outside the region. Against this backdrop, Minister Phan Van Giang affirmed Vietnam's support for the presence of nations for the purposes of peace, stability, and cooperative development. However, he also emphasized the importance of nations respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law, while resolutely opposing any actions that increase tension and hinder regional prosperity and stability.

The Minister also noted that non-traditional security challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, transnational crime, natural disasters, epidemics, water security, and cybersecurity, are becoming major threats to both the region and the globe. He affirmed Vietnam's readiness to cooperate and join hands with the international community in responding to these disasters.

Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized the importance of developing cooperative relations based on the principles of equality and self-determination, resolving disputes through peaceful means, respecting international law, and refraining from the use of force. He also highlighted the role of major powers in addressing global security issues.

Finally, the Minister announced that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence will organize the second International Defence Exhibition in December 2024, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, and expressed his hope for the support and participation of countries and defence enterprises. Minister Phan Van Giang's speech at the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum received particular attention from the delegates in attendance.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/dai-tuong-phan-van-giang-du-dien-dan-huong-son-bac-kinh-lan-thu-11-345641.html