Vietnam attends the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue

According to a VNA reporter in Singapore, on the morning of June 3, the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue on Defense and Security (SLD20) in Singapore, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), officially opened with the participation of over 550 delegates, including defense and security leaders and academic experts from 41 countries.

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam led by Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense attended the conference.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense (2nd from left) attends the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue. Photo: Le Duong/VNA reporter in Singapore

SLD-20 has 7 plenary sessions, where national security and defense leaders and experts will give speeches and discuss the US leadership role in the Indo- Pacific region, building a stable and balanced Asia-Pacific region, resolving regional tensions, China's new security agenda... SLD20 will also have 6 special sessions simultaneously discussing security issues in cyberspace and technology competition, challenges in developing military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, nuclear risks and challenges to regional security, balancing sub-multilateral mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region with the central role of ASEAN, defense cooperation trends in the Indian Ocean region... Taking place over 3 days from June 2-4, this year's National Security and Defense Dialogue is overshadowed by concerns about US-China competition, confrontation and conflict in Ukraine, potentially creating major challenges. for the regional security environment. In his opening speech on the evening of June 2, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on major powers to avoid a “diplomatic freeze” and for countries to do all they can to set up “protective fences” to prevent US-China relations from getting worse.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on the evening of June 2. Photo: VNA

Within the framework of SLD20, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien had meetings with leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and heads of delegations of several countries participating in the dialogue. At the meeting with Senior Lieutenant General Ly Thuong Phuc, Minister of National Defense of China, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien conveyed the regards of the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense and invited Minister Ly Thuong Phuc to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The two heads of delegations affirmed that the bilateral defense cooperation relationship has been promoted by leaders at all levels in recent times, becoming more and more substantive, and is one of the important pillars in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and friendly neighborliness between the two countries; the two sides are ready to coordinate and implement defense cooperation activities in 2023 at an appropriate time. Senior Lieutenant General Ly Thuong Phuc emphasized that the defense cooperation relationship between the two countries continues to be implemented according to the common perception agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders, especially after the official visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides proactively coordinate to implement cooperation in areas including delegation exchanges, border and sea management and protection, early organization of the 8th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, Defense Strategy Dialogue and other cooperation activities.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Donald Marles on the evening of June 2. Photo: Le Duong/VNA reporter in Singapore

At the meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Donald Marles, the two sides agreed that bilateral cooperation has recently seen new developments in all areas such as delegation exchanges, training, maritime security, etc., especially cooperation in the field of UN peacekeeping , including the visit of Australian Governor-General David Hurley to the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department in April 2023. On this occasion, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence shared his good impressions during his official visit to Vietnam in November 2022.

The leaders of the two countries' defense ministries agreed to continue to effectively implement the cooperation relationship in the fields signed by both sides in the coming time; in the immediate future, promote the signing of the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement and update the Joint Vision Statement on promoting defense cooperation. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his gratitude to Australia for supporting the transportation of Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospitals to perform tasks at United Nations missions; Minister Richard Marles affirmed that at the end of June, Australia will support Vietnam in transporting the 2.5 Field Hospital to South Sudan.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, met with Japanese Deputy Minister of Defense Masami Oka on June 3. Photo: Le Duong/VNA reporter in Singapore

At the meeting with Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Masami Oka, the two sides highly appreciated the implementation of the results of the Defense Policy Dialogue in March 2023; and were pleased to witness the continuous development of defense relations, including cooperation in the transfer of defense equipment and technology and United Nations peacekeeping.

The Deputy Defense Ministers of the two countries agreed to continue their efforts and successfully coordinate activities within the framework of the Vietnam-Japan co-chairing cycle of the ADMM+ Experts' Group on United Nations Peacekeeping. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the Japanese Ministry of Defense continue to cooperate effectively and support the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department in training, sharing field experience and equipment.

At the meeting with leaders of the Singapore Ministry of Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his desire to promote defense cooperation with other countries to become more substantial and effective, such as: maintaining consultation and dialogue mechanisms, sharing experiences, cooperating in search and rescue and promoting the signing of cooperation documents; continuing to coordinate and support each other at international and regional defense and security mechanisms and forums.

At the reception for Mr. Peter Hammerschmidt, Assistant Deputy Minister of National Defense of Canada, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien acknowledged the proposals that the leadership of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense authorized Assistant Deputy Minister Peter Hammerschmidt to present at the reception, suggesting that the two sides continue to maintain exchanges of defense delegations at all levels to exchange experiences, effectively organize bilateral defense consultations towards the Defense Policy Dialogue at the level of Deputy Defense Ministers of the two countries in 2023 and sign important cooperation documents and plans, deploy cooperation on United Nations peacekeeping and potential cooperation areas such as training, military medicine, etc.

VNA

Source