Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-general Nguyen Chi Vinh has
stressed Vietnam’s consistent defence policy, saying the country
only wants to protect its territorial sovereignty and contribute to
peace and stability in the region and the world.
The Deputy Defence Minister made the remarks on June 1 while answering
reporters’ questions on the sidelines of the 12th Shangri La Dialogue
in Singapore.
At the dialogue, Vietnamese Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a keynote speech which re-affirmed
Vietnam’s defence policy is that of peace, self-defence and non-allied
to any country. Vinh said this policy is supported by the whole world
and in line with the trend of the era.
In the
speech, PM Dung also gave out general assessments of regional situation
and proposed constructively strategic measures for regional security
situation, he added.
According to Deputy Defence
Minister Vinh, PM Dung announced Vietnam’s decision to participate
in UN peacekeeping operations in such areas as military
engineering, military medicine and military observation. He said the
decision confirms that Vietnam is a responsible member of the
international community.
“It is a development step
in our country’s international integration, including integration in the
field of defence and security,” he noted.
Regarding
the participation of PM Dung as a keynote speaker, Vinh said that this
was the first time a Prime Minister of Vietnam to deliverer a speech at
the Shangri La Dialogue.
This was also the first
time the world defense circle to have a chance to hear Vietnamese
Government leader talking about the issue of defence and security, Vinh
added.-VNA