Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of the VietnamPeople’s Army (VPA) led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the VPA Sen.Lieut. Gen. Ngo Minh Tien attended the 10th Moscow Conference onInternational Security (MCIS-10) that opened in Russia on August 16.

Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang also sent apre-recorded speech to the second session of the conference, calling the MCIS an important multilateral forum for countries to exchange views on strategicissues directly relating to regional and international security, thus helping promote dialogues and enhance cooperation between countries, for peace,stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as well.

Pointing to uncertainties in the region which have impacted regional security architecture, Giang said there have beenASEAN-led mechanisms and forums like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the EastAsia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), the ADMM Plusand the ASEAN Maritime Forum.

The mechanisms and forums, together with othermultilateral forums such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Beijing XiangshanForum and the MCIS have promoted mutual understanding and dialogues, towardscooperation in handling conflicts and differences through peaceful measures,the minister said.

He suggested countries build political trust to dealwith regional security challenges which, however, requires time, patience andregular efforts.

Notably, all activities aiming to build politicaltrust should match the principles of the United Nations Charter, international lawand regional commitments, the minister continued.

Giang affirmed that Vietnam has made efforts,together with other countries in and outside the region, to devise andimplement cooperation mechanisms and fully participate in regional multilateralforums.

Vietnam will further contribute to multilateralcooperation mechanisms and work to promote peace and reconciliation and preventconflicts, he pledged.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he emphasised thatVietnam persistently pursues the principle of settling disputes and differencesby peaceful measures on the basis of respecting independence, sovereignty andlegitimate rights of the countries and in line with international law, includingthe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Vietnam commits to seriously implementing theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and hopes for aneffective, substantial and more legally-binding Code of Conduct (COC), he said.

MCIS-10 brought together 700 delegates from 70countries and six international organisations. /.