Vietnam attends forum preparing for 2021 Shangri-La Dialogue
Vietnam took part in the 9th Fullerton Forum, held in the format of videoconference on January 18 and 19 to prepare for the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper reported.
Lt. Gen. Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Foreign Relations Department at the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, speaks at the teleconferenced 9th Fullerton Forum (Photo: qdnd.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam took part inthe 9th Fullerton Forum, held in the format of videoconference on January 18and 19 to prepare for the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-LaDialogue, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper reported.
The forum, with the participation more than 20Asian-Pacific nations, was an occasion for defence policy makers to discussemerging security challenges ahead of the 2021 Shangri-La Dialogue.
Basing on countries’ concerns, organisers of the2021 Shangri-La Dialogue will identify issues that attract great attention todesign the agenda for the coming event, set to take place in Singapore fromJune 4 - 6.
At the Fullerton Forum, Lt. Gen. Vu Chien Thang,Director of the Foreign Relations Department at the Vietnamese Ministry ofNational Defence, delivered a speech at the third session on the strategic usesof emerging technologies.
He noted that scientific and technologicaladvances have considerably contributed to economic development and ensuring defence- security in each country, while creating a solid foundation for proactiveresponse to impacts of non-traditional security challenges, including theCOVID-19 pandemic.
However, there are also adverse effects, Thangnoted, elaborating that scientific and technological advances are among causesof new forms of warfare such as cyberwarfare and “grey-zone” warfare, as wellas risks of conflict and tension escalation.
Given this, he pointed out the necessity to havemechanisms for managing and monitoring the application of military scientificand technological advances to minimise adverse impacts.
Thang suggested that countries should keep theirdefence and military science - technology development policies transparent.They also need to enhance international cooperation to manage risks thatadvanced technology may pose to security of each country, the region and theworld at large.
Dr Samir Puri, an senior fellow at theInternational Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) – the organising body ofthe Fullerton Forum and the Shangri-La Dialogue, who chaired the third session,applauded Vietnam laying emphasis on the need to bring into play effectiveregional security cooperation mechanisms led by ASEAN, including the ASEANRegional Forum, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, andthe ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, in mainlining strategic dialogue andusing information technology to organise teleconferenced discussions./.
Organisers of the 2020 Shangri-La Dialogue have announced that the forum, initially scheduled for June 5-7 in Singapore, will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) has become an effective and practical defence-security consultative mechanism, helping the region cope with emerging non-traditional security challenges over the past decade, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
The 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) was held via videoconference on December 10 under the chair of Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich.
ASEAN+3 countries must work together to complete a legal framework for cyber security, looking towards building common ASEAN rules and standards for information security based on voluntary codes of conduct, said Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam.
The annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore will take place this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singaporean Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen has said.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Lt. Gen. Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Foreign Relations Department at the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, speaks at the teleconferenced 9th Fullerton Forum (Photo: qdnd.vn) 
