Seoul (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh’svisit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from September 6-9 to attend the SeoulDefence Dialogue 2017 and the sixth Vietnam-RoK defence policy dialogue atdeputy ministerial level was fruitful, contributing to enhancing defencecooperation between Vietnam and the RoK as well as regional countries.

In an interview granted to Seoul-based Vietnam News Agency correspondents,Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vinh said that the newly-formed Seoul Defence Dialogue was asignificant event amidst security challenges in the Korean Peninsula as well asin East Asia.

Along with the event, this year, the RoK held defence ministerialmeetings with the ASEAN countries, which showed the attention of theinternational community and regional countries to the role of ASEAN in securityissues.

Participants at the event focused on the nuclear matter in the KoreanPeninsula, he said, adding that the international community, including Vietnam,is concerned about the nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula against internationallaw. They hoped suitable measures would be sought to solve the issue.

At the same time, they paid much attention to maritime security,especially in the Eastern seas, including the East Sea and the East China Sea.

Vinh said that all sides continued worrying about the acts that went contraryto international law as well as the use of military pressures to seek advantagesat sea, and the deployment of more weapons in the regions.

Particularly, participants showed deep concern about the reinforcementof rocks and islands into military bases or semi-military bases in the EastSea, said Vinh, who emphasised that security in the East Sea has become a globalissue.

Participants agreed on the need to act in conformity with internationallaw and through peaceful measures on the foundation of sharing common interestsof the region.

Vinh affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of abiding by internationallaw and persistently pursuing peaceful measures, and working together for peaceand development in the East Sea.

Vietnam resolutely safeguards its sovereignty in the East Sea in linewith international law, he stated, adding that the country’s stance wassupported by all countries.

Another issue that drew the attention of participants is non-traditionalsecurity challenges, including cyber security, genetic modification, newseries-killing weapon, he said. Vinh said that Vietnam should also be well preparedfor new security matters in the future amidst the fourth industrial revolution.

He noted that ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, lauded the good-willof the RoK as it held defence deputy ministerial meetings with the regionalcountries.

Assessing the outcomes of the Vietnam-RoK defence policy dialogue, Vinhsaid that both sides shared delight at the defence partnership between the twocountries over the past years.

Vietnam and the RoK had a common viewpoint on cooperating for mutualgrowth and settling all security issues through peaceful measures.

This year, Vietnam highlighted the independence and self-reliance aswell as responsibility to the international community and the region, thestrengthening of defence cooperation with other countries, and theparticipation in UN peacekeeping operations and activities of ASEAN.

Vinh said that along with cooperation in overcoming war aftermaths withthe RoK providing 20 million USD for Vietnam’s bomb and mine clearance effort,the two countries have also affiliated in maritime security.

Vietnam highly values the RoK’s support in recent years, especially theprovision of three vessels to the Vietnam Coast Guard, and assistance inpersonnel training.

The RoK has also committed to continuing aiding Vietnam with equipmentand means for national sovereignty protection at sea, revealed Vinh. -VNA