An international workshop on emerging security order in the Indo – Pacific: issues and challenges took place in New Delhi, India from July 14-15.

 


At the event (Source: VNA) 

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said the Indo-Pacific region is attracting attention in the context of rapid changes in regional and world situation and in power balance along with increasing grave challenges to peace, stability and development.

He noted that the current situation in the East Sea is one of the threats to peace, stability and freedom of navigation, aviation and trade in this region.

The world is witnessing activities to reclaim and construct artificial islands in the East Sea and militarisation via the installment of equipment and weapons, which the Ambassador said is threatening not only the sovereignty of Southeast Asian nations but also the freedom of maritime, aviation and trade of countries outside the region. 

The diplomat emphasised the importance of the Indo-Pacific and the East Sea in particular to Vietnam, noting that the country holds sovereignty of not only the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos but also 3,000 other islands and islets. With a coastline of 3,260km stretching from the north to the south, Vietnam has more than 1 million sq.km of exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He said the East Sea is vital to the Vietnamese economy as it is the country’s main gateway to the world, adding that if the East Sea is occupied, not only Vietnam’s security will be threatened but its economy will also be seriously hurt.

In addition, the Indo – Pacific is also of vital importance to Vietnam as most of its biggest strategic and economic partners are located in the region.

The ambassador recalled President Tran Dai Quang’s speech to Indian statesmen, professors, researchers, scholars and students at Nehru Memorial Museum in India in March this year, in which the President called on countries to share a common vision about an open region based on international law and sharing common interest in maintaining peace, stability and inclusive prosperity, in which no country, no ethnic group and no population are left behind.

All countries should strive to defend freedom and unobstructed traffic of maritime, aviation and trade routes so that the Indian Ocean – Pacific will not be divided into sub-regions that are manipulated by powerful countries, impeded by protectionism and divided by insular nationalism, he said.

Ambassador Thanh also urged countries to establish effective mechanisms to maintain peace, stability and the rule of law, ensure common security, prevent conflicts and war, and effectively cope with traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

He stressed that Vietnam’s viewpoint on the Indo-Asia-Pacific region has many similarities with Indian PM Narendra Modi’s vision about the Indo – Pacific as outlined in his keynote speech at the Shangri La Dialogue held in Singapore in June 1, stressing that both Vietnam and India want to engage in instead of confronting in the settlement of regional issues.

Participants at the event shared the view that the Indian Ocean – Pacific is emerging as the most important region with its status as a geopolitical and geo-economical hub, a busy trade corridor of the most importance globally with nearly two-thirds of petrol and one third of global cargo going through it.

However, the lack of cooperation rules and trust building measures, along with unsettled disputes and competition for scarce natural resources are seriously threatening regional peace and stability.

The event at the Indian Council of Social Science Research was co-hosted by theCentre for Canadian,US&Latin AmericanStudies under Jawaharlal Nehru University,and the Kalinga Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Studies.
Source: VNA

 

 


Related Topics


Vice Chairman attends ceremony marking 60th founding anniversary of Yen Thuy district

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong attended the ceremony to mark the 60th founding anniversary of Yen Thuy district, Hoa Binh province, on November 10.

Hoa Binh ramps up efforts in cultural preservation, promotion

The Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee has issued a conclusion reviewing the three years implementing its resolution on preserving and promoting cultural values in Hoa Binh province for 2021 – 2025 with a vision towards 2030.

Hoa Binh’s socio-economic development discussed

alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hoa Binh Party Committee Nguyen Phi Long on October 29 chaired the October meeting of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, which focused on important issues related to the locality’s socio-economic development.

Party official visits revolution contributors in Hoa Binh city

Mai Van Chinh, member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Mass Mobilisation, has visited and presented gifts to revolution contributors in Hoa Binh city. joining him were Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee; Bui Duc Hinh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council; and Bui Van Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; along with other provincial officials.

Hoa Binh hopes for further support from EU, AFD: leader

Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanh expressed his hope for more support from the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD) for the local development, while hosting a delegation from the two organisations led by Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Shinas on October 23.

Vice President pays tribute at President Ho Chi Minh memorial site in Kim Boi

During her working visit to Hoa Binh province on October 18, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan toured a site where late President Ho Chi Minh once stayed when he visited the Kim Boi district’s Party Committee. She was accompanied by officials from various ministries, agencies, and central organisations.