Singapore (VNA) – New security challenges amid the fourth industrialrevolution like cyber security, chemical and biological weapons and armed andnon-armed terrorism requires efforts from separate countries and the wholeAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to counter them.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh made thestatement in a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency during hisparticipation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat inSingapore on February 5-6.

Besides new security challenges, ASEAN should heighten vigilance over old onessuch as marine security, terrorism, conflicts or even war, he warned.

The involved parties are seeking to develop a Code of Conduct in the East Seato ensure legal and binding principles based on multinational consensus, hesaid.

The official reiterated Vietnam’s stance of not accepting the illegalconstruction of bases on its territorial islands.

The only way for ASEAN member states to cope with these challenges isstrengthening solidarity, he said.

He emphasised Vietnam’s priorities in its external defence policy, whichfocuses on strengthening bilateral cooperation with neighbouring countries suchas Laos, Cambodia and China, other countries like the US and Russia, and ASEANand the European Union (EU).

Regarding multilateral relations, Vietnam will play a better role in theregional defence cooperation, he said, adding that the EU military defencecommunity is interested in a strategic defence partnership with Vietnam.

Vietnam will enhance cooperation within the framework of the United Nations(UN) by sending soldiers to UN peacekeeping missions.

The country will engage in joint exercises and search and rescue activities inaddition to providing humanitarian assistance and building a defence-basedindustry, he said.
Soon, the Central MilitaryCommission will adopt aplan on international integration and external defence relations for 2018-2021 tocontribute to national peace, stability, and protection of sovereignty andindependence, he added.-VNA