Vietnam backs the non-proliferation and the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, Major General Nguyen Dinh Chien, Director of the Military Strategy Institute, has said.

Speaking at the plenary session of the first Seoul Defence Dialogue at a deputy ministerial level (SDD-2012) in the Republic of Korea on November 15, Chien stressed that the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons should not oppose the legitimate rights of countries, especially developing nations, to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Vietnam objects to schemes that use the issue on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to interfere with internal affairs of other countries, Chien stated.

Derived from its policy of positively supporting and contributing to the joint efforts of the international community for peace, security and disarmament, Vietnam has actively participated in international activities to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Chien added.

He further said that Vietnam has joined other ASEAN countries to sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone agreement, and has so far participated in and strictly abided by conventions, agreements and protocols on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other international conventions on disarmament.
The country is considering other international conventions and treaties and prepares necessary conditions to fully implement its tasks as a signatory, Chien added.

Regarding the nuclear matter in the Korean peninsula, Chien affirmed that Vietnam supports negotiations on denuclearisation in the area.

The country maintained that the six-party talks are paramount for dialogue and peaceful negotiations for a nuclear-free, secure and peaceful Korean peninsula for Korean people and other regional countries.

He also affirmed that Vietnam will always support reconciliation, cooperation, peace and reunification between the two Koreans, and is willing to contribute to the process.-VNA