A delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, led by Deputy Defense Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien attended at the 14th Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD-14) from September 8 to 10 at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Korea.

The opening ceremony of SDD-14 took place on the morning of September 9, with the participation of around 1,000 security officials from 68 countries and international organizations, including 13 defence ministers and deputy ministers.

In his opening address, ROK Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu Baek affirmed that Seoul will pursue the goals of reducing military tensions and denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, grounded in strong deterrence capabilities and a solid combat readiness. He emphasized a “national interest-centered” strategy, while stressing that the RoK will continue to expand comprehensive partnerships to restore and establish peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the region and the wider world.

In his remarks, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, and stands ready to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries. In the field of defence, Vietnam remains steadfast in its “four no’s” policy (no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases on Vietnamese soil, and no use or threat of force in international relations), regarding military transparency, adherence to international law, and a commitment to settling disputes by peaceful means as the foundation for building trust.

On the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, Vietnam’s consistent position is that all maritime disputes must be resolved through peaceful means, on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam also laid stress on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and continued efforts to soon conclude a substantive, effective, and legally consistent Code of Conduct in the East (COC).

To ease military tensions and build long-term trust, the defence official proposed five groups of solutions.

These include complying with international law; upholding multilateralism, promoting the role of international organizations, and maintaining and expanding strategic dialogues on defence, security, and diplomacy at all levels; respecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; enhancing transparency in policies, strategies, and military activities such as large-scale exercises, drills, and freedom of navigation and aviation activities, while strengthening the establishment of hotlines to deal with emergencies; and committing to cooperation for peace and building strategic trust at both regional and international levels.

Chien emphasized that reducing military tensions and building long-term trust is more than a political choice. It is an essential requirement for maintaining peace, stability, and development in the 21st century. Vietnam believes that with sincerity, genuine trust, and a strong sense of responsibility, parties can work together to avert the risk of conflict and foster peace and shared prosperity.

On the sidelines of SDD-14, the Vietnamese defence delegation also held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey.

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