Illustrative image (Photo: The Khmer Times) Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien delivered a keynote speech at the 12th ASEAN-Japan deputy defence ministers’ meeting in Tokyo on March 15.
Speaking at the event, Chien affirmed that the region is facing a series of traditional and non-traditional security challenges, notably maritime security, terrorism, cyber security, climate change, natural disasters and epidemics.
He said these challenges are transnational in nature and no country can effectively solve them on their own, which requires substantial cooperation among countries.
Chien hailed Japan's support for ASEAN's central role and its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms, particularly the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM ) and Japan's "Vientiane Vision 2.0".
About maritime security, he emphasised the importance of strengthening collective efforts to ensure the maintenance of international law and principles in international relations, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as joint efforts to prevent and manage conflicts in order to maintain common peace and stability in the region.
On the sidelines of the event, Chien held a bilateral meeting with Gen. Neang Phat, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Defence Ministry, during which they expressed their satisfaction with the recent developments of bilateral defence cooperation, especially in realising the "Vietnam-Cambodia, Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022" plan in areas such as exchange of delegations, cooperation between military regions and border guard forces, personnel training, among others.
They also agreed to working closely together on the cooperation plan for 2023./.
