The Shangri-La Dialogue with a Vietnamese imprint.

The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore concluded on the afternoon of May 31st after three days of lively discussions. One of the highlights that particularly caught the attention of observers at this year's Dialogue was the first-time participation and keynote address by General Secretary and President To Lam. According to many scholars, diplomats , and international experts, the presence of the head of the Vietnamese Party and State not only reflects Vietnam's increasingly elevated position on the international stage but also demonstrates Vietnam's increasingly active role in regional peace, security, and development issues.

With six plenary sessions and three special sessions, the overarching message of this year's Shangri-La Dialogue was the urgent need to strengthen trust, enhance dialogue, and promote cooperation in the context of an increasingly complex global security environment. Within this context, Vietnam's presence is considered one of the outstanding highlights.

According to scholars, the prominent message in the keynote address by General Secretary and President To Lam was a call for the international community to work together to resolve the strategic crisis of trust, strengthen the rules-based international order, and continue to uphold the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in addressing regional and global issues. These viewpoints are considered relevant to the urgent needs of the world today, which faces the risk of polarization and increasing confrontation.

Professor Carl Thayer, an international studies expert at the University of New South Wales, Australia, commented: "It was a constructive speech. General Secretary and President To Lam was very firm on the central role of ASEAN, the United Nations, and international law. That was an excellent dialectical argument. In addition, an interesting point was raised about preventive diplomacy. General Secretary and President To Lam spoke about practical mechanisms and preventive diplomacy to jointly resolve disputes that require reconciliation."

Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, Senior Research Fellow, East Asia International Relations Research Group (EAIR), Malaysia, stated: "General Secretary and President To Lam's keynote speech was very balanced. I particularly appreciated how he addressed the three major crises in the world: the crisis of international order, the crisis of the development model, and the crisis of strategic trust. I also highly appreciated the recommendations made by General Secretary and President To Lam. One of them was about effective risk mitigation tools. In addition, General Secretary and President To Lam also emphasized the importance of ASEAN. Overall, I think the speech truly addressed the world's major concerns and proposed ways in which we can bridge the gap and achieve the ideal rules-based order that we hope to return to."

From the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, Vietnam's message is one of dialogue, responsibility, and confidence-building, demonstrating a Vietnam that is not only participating but also actively contributing to shaping a cooperative approach for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

Source: https://vtv.vn/doi-thoai-shangri-la-voi-dau-an-viet-nam-10026053120351965.htm