Promoting defense cooperation for a combined strength to cope with common challenges is one of the key measures to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh made the remark in his speech delivered at the June 2 plenary session of the 12th Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue) in Singapore.

 Vinh emphasized that the 21st century will be a century of peace and development for Asia-Pacific. The trend of cooperation, including that in the Asia-Pacific, is taking place more vigorously than any other regions in the world and has been expanded multilaterally.

“Thanks to this trend, we have made massive progress in confidence building and preventive diplomacy, which is a key factor to reduce the risks of conflicts and contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific for more than three decades.

 As for the Asia-Pacific defence cooperation, ASEAN nations have gained the common sense, strong determination, collective efforts and effective cooperation” he said.

In order to preserve regional peace and stability, the ASEAN member states wish to establish   strong cooperation mechanism.

Thus, ASEAN organized the first ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) successfully in Malaysia in 2006. Since ADMM was established, there have been major progresses in building confidence, strengthening solidarity and promoting multifaceted cooperation.

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh delivers speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue  (Photo: People's Army website)

ASEAN does not limit itself to the defense cooperation within ASEAN, the initiative for a new, open and inclusive security structure adopted by ASEAN nations and eight partner countries was proved by the successful organization of the first ADMM Plus in Hanoi in 2010.

This is the consulting mechanism and the highest defense-security cooperation between ASEAN and its partners with a view to boosting the cooperation and sharing experience and human resources to deal with the challenges.

Although the mechanism was established not long ago, a lot of ADMM Plus’ commitments have been carried out in a flexible, practical and specific way, which is suitable for both the common requirements of the region and the capacity of each member country.

In addition to these mechanisms, ASEAN has been proactively taking part in the cooperation within the framework of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and Shangri-La Dialogue.

Vinh called on the countries to continue building confidence, saying the best way of building confidence is action.

“In the process of cooperation, we need to hear public opinion, make decisions on the principles of international laws and legitimate benefits of all parties, show the equality and the respect for mutual benefits and the common benefits of the region. In doing so, we will be able to avoid sectorial differences and unilateralism in dealing with regional and international issues,” he noted.

ADMM Plus has reached the consensus on five priority areas of cooperation, namely humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, medicine, maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

 ADMM Plus gradually carried out these areas of cooperation in such forms as seminars, tabletop exercises, and experience sharing in human resources cooperation.

As co-chairman of ADMM Plus Experts Working Groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with China, Vietnam is about to send military personnel to join the field exercises on Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief and Military Medicine in Brunei in June.

 This is the first time for ADMM Plus to carry out the coordination in field actions and it is also the first time for Vietnam to send troops overseas to take part in multilateral activities.

 In addition to these areas of cooperation, Vietnam has just proposed a new initiative for the establishment of Humanitarian Mine Action Group. This is the 6th item of cooperation in ADMM Plus.

The initiative initiated by Vietnam was adopted at the 7th ADMM in Brunei in May.

India has agreed to co-chair with Vietnam in the implementation of this initiative as soon as this initiative is adopted at the 2 nd ADMM Plus in Brunei in August.

The Vietnamese defense official reiterated the request for further cooperation among the Navies, Maritime Polices and Border Guards and for the establishment of the hotline between ASEAN Defense Ministers.

 

He suggested the ASEAN Ministers of Defence consider the signing of a no-first-use-of-force agreement in order to consolidate the mutual trust among ASEAN countries, saying the experience gained from this will be eventually expanded to the nations of the Asia-Pacific Region.

 Vietnam is located on the rim of the Pacific Ocean and at the low delta of the Mekong River and is one of the five countries which are under the most serious influence of the climate change and the rising sea level, the Deputy Minister said, adding the Vietnamese people have been suffering from severe consequences of wars.

“For these reasons, we are always concerned about the ever increasingly complicated challenges in our region,” he said.

Vietnam has been actively involving in the regional defense-security mechanism. Together with this, the country has proactively proposed the solutions to the disputes and agreed to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and supported the formulation of the Codes of Conduct (COC) between ASEAN countries and China.

At the same time, Vietnam is willing to cooperate with all concerning parties to seek a basic and long-term solution to the issues in the East Sea on the principles of international laws, especially the UN’s 1982 Convention on the Laws of the Sea, he stated.

The gradual modernisation of Vietnam’s army not only serves the legitimate self-defense rights but also enhances the capabilities to restore the consequences of wars, deals with non-traditional security issues and takes part in the production activities, thus contributing to the national construction, he stressed.

Along with the regional cooperation, Vietnam has proactively coped with those challenges. As a coastal country, Vietnam realises its responsibility for ensuring the maritime security in the region.

 Over the past years, Vietnamese forces have rescued a lot of fishermen from the accidents at sea, a great number of whom are foreign fishermen.

Noticeably, in November 2012, the Vietnam’ Marine Police arrested 11 armed pirates in the East Sea, which reaffirmed Vietnam’s determination and responsibility in maintaining freedom, security and safety for the international sea lines within the continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone of Vietnam in line with the UN’s 1982 Convention on the Laws of the Sea, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.

The Deputy Defence Minister also called on concerned parties in the East Sea to respect and protect fishermen, absolutely avoid the use force against them by all means including military and non-military means.

The inhumane actions against the fishermen are unacceptable, he affirmed, noting these are the common norms of international laws and the moral codes of the present day world.

“We will have more practical steps of cooperation in the spirit of mutual understanding, equality, mutual support and respect, which is the best way to preserve peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

VOV