Tokyo (VNA) – Deputy Defence Minisꦆter Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien led a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the 13th ASEAN-Japan Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum that opened in Tokyo on January 30.

At the event, Chien delivered a speech with the theme "Unity and cooperation for regional peace and security", affirming that the forum is necessary and important for ASEAN and Japan to jointly assess the situation and propose new directions for defence cooperation. Chien said that the 50-year cooperation affirms that ASEAN and Japan have become indispensable partners of each other, actively supporting and bringing great benefits to both sides, especially in the field of defence cooperation, contributing to consolidating and increasing strategic trust. Multilateral and bilateral platforms have been opening up many opportunities to bring ASEAN-Japan defence relations to a new level, creating more cooperation space commensurate with their comprehensive strategic partnership.  The Vietnamese official highly appreciated Japan's initiative launched at the unofficial meeting of defence ministers of ASEAN countries and Japan in November 2023. Vietnam supports the implementation of the "Vientiane Vision 2.0" on strengthening defence cooperation between Japan and ASEAN as well as other initiatives for peace and security in the region. Deputy Minister Chien also proposed solutions to promote ASEAN-Japan defence cooperation in the coming time including to continue to increase contacts and dialogues through various channels to exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual concern and build strategic trust; consistently, synchronously, and effectively deploy the pillars of cooperation that the two sides agreed on in November 2023 and on the basis of "Vientiane Vision 2.0". Regarding maritime security, Chien hoped that ASEAN and Japan will continue to coordinate closely in regional and international mechanisms to ensure regional peace and stability, especially maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea. He also hoped Japan will strengthen support for ASEAN mechanisms and initiatives, promote dialogue and cooperation, build trust, and resolve disputes by peaceful means and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). He also proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in areas where Japan has strengths and ASEAN has needs as well as in dealing with non-traditional security challenges. Chien affirmed that as a responsible member of the international community and ASEAN, Vietnam has, and will continue to actively and effectively participate in the defence and military cooperation framework between ASEAN and its partners, including Japan, to contribute more to peace, prosperity, cooperation and common development of the region and the world. On this occasion, he invited leaders of the Ministries of Defence of other countries and defence industry enterprises of ASEAN and Japan to visit and attend the second Vietnam International Defence Expo at the end of 2024. Also on January 30, Chien had bilateral meetings with Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Serizawa Kiyoshi, and Japan’s State Minister of Defence Oniki Makoto. Earlier, he met with heads of the delegations from Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines on the occasion of their attendance at the conference./.