Commenting on General Secretary and President Lam’s keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Thai scholar Supalak Ganjanakhundee said the Vietnamese leader identified three interrelated crises shaping the current global landscape - the crisis of international order, the crisis of development models and the crisis of strategic trust.
In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in Malaysia, Dr. Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Taylor’s University, underscored the significance of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The visits also took place at a time when the Philippines is serving as ASEAN Chair in 2026, Singapore is preparing to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, and Vietnam is set to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam reaffirmed and emphasised the central role played by ASEAN, stating clearly that Vietnam regards ASEAN as the most important strategic space, and that the Asia-Pacific regional security architecture should be led by ASEAN rather than becoming an arena for rivalry among major powers.
By moving from crisis response to proactive risk reduction, Vietnam has positioned itself as a responsible and mature “architect” of regional peace, said a Malaysia-based expert.
Referring to Vietnam’s presence at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the scholar said the country has stepped onto the regional stage with a renewed posture, positioning itself as a constructive diplomatic player committed to promoting peace and stability.
The two sides agreed that, amid an increasingly complex and volatile global environment, Vietnam and Singapore should further strengthen coordination, for the development of each country, as well as for peace, stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam and Australia have agreed to further deepen the economic cooperation pillar and work toward the early realisation of the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, the top Vietnamese leader's messages of ASEAN unity, strategic autonomy, and trust-building have been widely regarded as timely and practical. They also underscore Vietnam’s increasingly active role in regional and international affairs.
Vietnam is increasingly viewed as a noteworthy model for its balanced approach to international relations, said Professor Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
On May 29 evening, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam delivered the keynote address at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue – a leading and prestigious forum on defense and security in Asia and the world. This was the first time the top Vietnamese leader attended and delivered an important speech at a multilateral event on regional security.
OVs hope the two countries can establish an interconnected cooperation mechanism in the technology supply chain, from sharing research, testing, and development infrastructure to training human resources, thereby forming a technology alliance able to compete with others in the ASEAN region and the world.
The top Vietnamese leader's keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue signals Vietnam’s rise as a key actor in both regional and global affairs – an official recognition of the country’s growing influence in international supply chains, maritime security and regional diplomacy.
One of the highlights of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s on-going visit to Singapore is his participation in and keynote policy speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This is set to mark the first time a Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President will attend and deliver a major address at a multilateral regional security forum.
The state visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is of particular importance to the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Observers believe Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s address at the Shangri-La Dialogue will attract particular international attention, not only because of Vietnam’s increasingly prominent role but also because of the messages it is expected to deliver on maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and strategic balance in a region undergoing profound transformation.
Singapore is currently one of Vietnam's most important economic partners and its second-largest foreign investor, with more than 4,500 active projects and nearly 97 billion USD in registered capital. Singaporean investments span a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, real estate, finance, high technology and modern services, making substantial contributions to economic growth, job creation and Vietnam's economic restructuring.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam will pay a state visit to Singapore from May 29-31, and he will attend and deliver a keynote address at this year's IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
The relationship between Japan and the Philippines in the security field has been strengthened in recent years. In 2023, Japan provided the Philippines with an airborne surveillance radar system.
A delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence have held bilateral meetings with many officials of other countries and partners while attending the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 31 to June 2.