A Vietnamese defence delegation led by Vice Director of the Ministry of
National Defence’s Institute for Defence Strategy, Colonel Nguyen Hong
Quan, is attending the 3 rd Jakarta International Defence Dialogue
(JIDD) in Indonesia’s capital city from March 20-21.
Themed “Defence and Diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific Region”, the event
saw the presence of Indonesia’s President Susilo Basmbang Yudhoyono and
Timor Leste’s Prime Minister Xaxana Gusmao among 1,300 officials and
diplomats from 39 countries and organisations.
This
year’s dialogue focuses on discussing several issues, including Asia’s
emergence and the new geopolitics of the Asia–Pacific region; Asia’s
impacts on economics, defence and diplomacy issues; threats and
challenges in the Asia–Pacific region; maritime challenges in disputed
seas; enhancing control and cooperation in preventing border gaps; and
upholding the Asia–Pacific region’s defence industry capacity.
Addressing the event, Indonesian Minister of Defence Purnomo
Yusgiantoro stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability
in the Asia–Pacific region – the most dynamic and fastest growing region
in the world.
JIDD is an opportunity for the
region’s countries to take part in open dialogues, seeking solutions to
challenges, building and protecting a peaceful, secure, sustainable and
favourable environment for a better future based on mutual understanding
and common goals, he noted.
The Timo Leste’s Prime
Minister highly valued the efforts of Indonesia in resolving conflicts,
maintaining peace and stability in the region. He said dialogue and
cooperation are the most suitable and effective solutions for
territorial disputes in the region and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono stressed the role
and contribution of Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) in peacefully addressing the divergences and territorial
disputes between member countries, and between ASEAN and other
countries, as well as its central role in forming the East Asia
structure through a range of positive initiatives.
The leader underlined the importance of maintaining peace, security and
stability in the East Sea, in the background big countries including
India, China, the US and Russia are implementing national strategies
toward the region.
According to him, the current
East Sea dispute is a complicated matter, requiring not only patience,
goodwill, the respect of international laws, but also an appropriate
time as well.
To establish the ASEAN Community by
2015 and effectively respond to global challenges, ASEAN should do its
utmost to foster cooperation and dialogue to solve disputes, boost
solidarity as well as accelerate regional and global integration, he
noted.-VNA