Vietnamese defence minister stresses importance of MCIS

Addressing the seventh MCIS in Moscow, Russia, on April 5, General Lich talked about multilateral mechanisms in Asia-Pacific and collective actions against emerging challenges and threats. 

He said the region is facing potential risks to its stability, with global issues, including traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, territorial water sovereignty disputes, weapons of mass destruction, racial and religious conflicts, terrorism, cyber security, natural disasters, diseases and adverse impacts of the fourth industrial revolution, among others. 

Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (center) at the Moscow Conference on International Security.

“However, we would be optimistic about good things brought about by multi-class, multi-sector cooperation trend, both bilateral and multilateral,” he said. 

The officer cited the fruitful bilateral relations between Vietnam and Russia in the region, along with cooperation mechanisms led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) like the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) to clarify his views. 

Efforts made by a single country cannot address such challenges but it requires connectivity and joint efforts of the entire region, with the army playing the key role, he stressed. 

General Lich also applauded Russia’s contributions to regional peace and stability over the past time, particularly within the framework of the ADMM , calling on the country to carry forward its role in Asia-Pacific, step up cooperation and friendship with the ASEAN member countries, and work with the group to maintain the balance in the region, prevent conflicts and wars and reduce the arms race, contributing to maintaining regional peace, security and stability. 

He affirmed that Vietnam persistently pursues the policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and being a trust-worthy friend and partner of all countries, and a responsible member of the international community.  

Vietnam advocates handling disputes, including East Sea dispute, by peaceful measures on the basis of international law and regional commitments, he said. 

The seventh MCIS took place from April 4-5 under the theme “Middle East outlook after eradication of ISIS in Syria”. More than 850 delegates from 95 countries attended the event.-VNA