Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam Addressed the Opening Session of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue
On the evening of 29 May, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, To Lam, General Secretary and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, delivered the keynote address opening the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading security and defence forums.
The speech, themed “Proactively Creating Peace, Stability and Development in a World of Volatility”, was delivered at a time when the global security environment is simultaneously being affected by major-power competition, conflicts in several regions, disruptions to strategic maritime routes, the rapid development of new technologies and the risk of declining trust among nations.
Three fundamental crises facing the world today
One of the most notable points in the address was To Lam’s characterisation of the current international situation through three simultaneous crises: a crisis of international order, a crisis of the development model and a crisis of strategic trust.
According to the Vietnamese leader, when the principles of international law are applied inconsistently, and when power is placed above commitments, countries – especially small and medium-sized states – will face pressure to choose sides, as well as economic, technological, financial and security coercion.
Six directions for a peaceful and resilient Asia-Pacific
Having identified the three current crises, To Lam proposed six directions for building a peaceful, stable and developing Asia-Pacific capable of reducing risks early and from afar: First, rules and dialogue must be made genuinely effective means of risk reduction. Second, an open and inclusive regional architecture centred on ASEAN must be built.
Third, human security and social resilience must be placed at the heart of sustainable security. Fourth, responsible standard for new technologies and the defence industry must be established. Fifth, social foundations and resilience must be strengthened, while the information space must be protected and awareness enhanced. Sixth, the region’s capacity for preventive diplomacy, reconciliation and mediation must be improved.
In his remarks, Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam prominently addressed the issue of seas and oceans, affirming that seas and oceans are resources, shared spaces of connectivity, and lifelines for trade, energy, food and global supply chains.
No country benefits if those connecting routes become arenas for displays of power, coercion or confrontation. Vietnam supports the settlement of all disputes and differences by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Vietnam respects the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of other countries; at the same time, it remains resolute and persistent in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights and lawful jurisdiction under international law in the East Sea.
Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam’s keynote address at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue carries notable significance for Vietnam’s foreign policy standing. Vietnam not only reaffirmed its consistent principles, including respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, but also clearly expressed its readiness to work with countries within and beyond the region to strengthen rules, build trust, promote dialogue, enhance cooperation and reduce risks.
