The 14th Shangri-La Dialogue ended in Singapore on May 31 with amessage that dialogue is needed to build trust and transparency.
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Layen said this is the firsttime German has joined the dialogue, which gives the country anopportunity to exchange experience and learn from other countries.
She highlighted that transparency and trust building is key tocooperation, adding that together with security structure and mutualbenefit they are the pillars for successful partnership.
Sharing Layen’s opinion, New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownleesaid his country attaches much importance to the maintenance of peace,stability and prosperity in the region. Therefore, New Zealandwishes to engage more closely in regional security structure throughbilateral and multilateral dialogues at all levels, he said.
He also expressed concern on tension-causing acts on the East Sea,stressing that his country is willing to join hands in seeking ways tosettle disputes in the sea.
The East Sea is one of thebusiest maritime and aviation routes in the world, he noted, addingthat one half of New Zealand trade volume is transported through thesea. He emphasised the significance of enhancing transparency in thecontext of intensifying military actions in the region. He added thatall countries should abide by international law.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of China'sPeople's Liberation Army, Sun Jianguo, said principles of the UN Chartermust be observed, which is the only way to develop peacefully, addingthat win-win cooperation should be the final goal towards peace andstability.
He claimed that China has always been afriend and a trustful partner of other countries. According to him, theEast Sea situation currently remains peaceful and stable.
At the same time, Defence Minister of the host country Ng Eng Hen, saidAsia is proving its role as the speediest developing region in theworld in terms of trade, finance and defence.
However, theregion is facing a number of urgent challenges, including extremistterrorism, trans-border human trafficking and cyber security, he noted.
The Singaporean minister pointed to the need for all regional countriesto build high consensus, avoiding conflict and seeking common solutionsin line with maintaining peace and security stability in the region.
He also called for all parties to exercise restraint and not to conductactions accelerating tension both at sea and in the sky.
Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent after the dialogue, JohnChipman, Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies,said this year’s event saw considerable straightforward speeches bydefence chiefs, many of which mentioned the East Sea issue as well asthe urgent need for the early conclusion and signing of a Code ofConduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China.
Thedefence ministers expressed the necessity to make more efforts to findmeasures to build trust with each other as well as with the rest of theworld, he held.
Running from May 29-31, the 14thShangri-La Dialogue gathered nearly 500 delegates from 38 countries,territories and international organisations. Throughout the past 14years, the event has become a venue for participants to talk and shareexperience, working together to seek ways to maintain peace, stabilityand security in the region for common prosperity.-VNA
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Layen said this is the firsttime German has joined the dialogue, which gives the country anopportunity to exchange experience and learn from other countries.
She highlighted that transparency and trust building is key tocooperation, adding that together with security structure and mutualbenefit they are the pillars for successful partnership.
Sharing Layen’s opinion, New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownleesaid his country attaches much importance to the maintenance of peace,stability and prosperity in the region. Therefore, New Zealandwishes to engage more closely in regional security structure throughbilateral and multilateral dialogues at all levels, he said.
He also expressed concern on tension-causing acts on the East Sea,stressing that his country is willing to join hands in seeking ways tosettle disputes in the sea.
The East Sea is one of thebusiest maritime and aviation routes in the world, he noted, addingthat one half of New Zealand trade volume is transported through thesea. He emphasised the significance of enhancing transparency in thecontext of intensifying military actions in the region. He added thatall countries should abide by international law.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of China'sPeople's Liberation Army, Sun Jianguo, said principles of the UN Chartermust be observed, which is the only way to develop peacefully, addingthat win-win cooperation should be the final goal towards peace andstability.
He claimed that China has always been afriend and a trustful partner of other countries. According to him, theEast Sea situation currently remains peaceful and stable.
At the same time, Defence Minister of the host country Ng Eng Hen, saidAsia is proving its role as the speediest developing region in theworld in terms of trade, finance and defence.
However, theregion is facing a number of urgent challenges, including extremistterrorism, trans-border human trafficking and cyber security, he noted.
The Singaporean minister pointed to the need for all regional countriesto build high consensus, avoiding conflict and seeking common solutionsin line with maintaining peace and security stability in the region.
He also called for all parties to exercise restraint and not to conductactions accelerating tension both at sea and in the sky.
Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent after the dialogue, JohnChipman, Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies,said this year’s event saw considerable straightforward speeches bydefence chiefs, many of which mentioned the East Sea issue as well asthe urgent need for the early conclusion and signing of a Code ofConduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China.
Thedefence ministers expressed the necessity to make more efforts to findmeasures to build trust with each other as well as with the rest of theworld, he held.
Running from May 29-31, the 14thShangri-La Dialogue gathered nearly 500 delegates from 38 countries,territories and international organisations. Throughout the past 14years, the event has become a venue for participants to talk and shareexperience, working together to seek ways to maintain peace, stabilityand security in the region for common prosperity.-VNA
