    |
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien attends the first plenary session of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue. |
Addressing the first plenary session, themed “U.S.’s strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that U.S.’s security interests are closely attached to those of the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized such principles as freedom, security and safety of navigation and overflight, freedom of trade at sea and addressing disputes by peaceful means and on the basis of rule of law.
|
|
 |
|
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addresses the session themed “U.S.’s strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.” |
After the first session, delegates participated in the second plenary session themed “Enhancing crisis management amid rising competition” and the third plenary session under the theme “Building cooperative security in the Asia-Pacific.”
In his speech at the simultaneous special session 4 with the topic “Maritime law enforcement and confidence building” on the afternoon of June 1, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard Major General Le Quang Dao emphasized the importance of international cooperation and confidence building in response to maritime security challenges. He proposed three solutions to promote cooperation in law enforcement at sea, including observing international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and law of countries; enhancing initiatives to effectively handle maritime security challenges; and building confidence in implementing signed cooperation documents and building new ones.
|
|
 |
|
Maj. Gen. Le Quang Dao (first from left) and other delegates at the simultaneous special session 4 themed “Maritime law enforcement and confidence building” |
On the sidelines of the dialogue, Gen. Chien and the Vietnamese delegation had meetings with defense leaders of other countries and partners to strengthen defense relations.
At the meeting with Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of National Defense Chan Heng Kee on the morning of June 1, Gen. Chien suggested the two sides continue to promote the agreements reached since the Vietnam-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue in 2023, and boost cooperation in personnel training, search and rescue, and digital transformation in military.
|
|
 |
|
Deputy Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien meets with Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of National Defense Chan Heng Kee. |
The Vietnamese deputy defense chief proposed extending the working period of Vietnamese liaison officers at Singapore’s Information Fusion Center (IFC). The Singaporean official acknowledged the proposals and said that Singapore will discuss details in the time ahead.
During the meeting with Dr. Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) – the organizer of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Gen. Chien spoke highly of the dialogue’s role in regional security and safety and affirmed that Vietnam will continue participating in this event. He suggested the IISS-Asia promote cooperation in research and academic exchanges with research units of Vietnam, including the Institute for Defense Strategy. The IISS chief agreed with the suggestion and asked the two sides to discuss cooperation activities for the coming time.
|
|
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien meets with Dr. Bastian Giegerich. |
Also in the morning, the Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard met with the Vice Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, during which both sides highly appreciated their forces’ cooperation outcomes over the past time, particularly in 2023 when the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and in first months of this year. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in delegation exchange, sharing of experience, and capacity building for the Vietnamese coast guard force.
Translated by Mai Huong