In an interview granted to the media after the meeting ended in Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture on September 13, the Deputy Defence Minister said as a coordinator of ASEAN – Japan ties in 2018, Vietnam will play a significant role in seeking ASEAN’s consensus on orientations for the bloc’s cooperation with Japan and in working with Japan to realise ideas and aspiration of both sides, thus bringing practical benefits to Japan, the ASEAN Community and each ASEAN member.
During the latest Japan – ASEAN Deputy Defence Ministerial Meeting, Japan expressed the desire to step up collaboration with the regional grouping in many fields after the Vientiane Vision on ASEAN-Japan Defence Relations was issued in 2016.
A host of emerging issues such as cyber and non-traditional security and defence challenges, along with outstanding problems such as maritime security were also discussed at the meeting.
Deputy Minister Vinh underlined that ASEAN plays an increasingly important role in Asia-Pacific defence cooperation conferences, which can be seen at the Seoul Defence Dialogue held in the Republic of Korea (RoK) last week.
At the dialogue, the RoK suggested organizing a RoK-ASEAN deputy defence ministers’ meeting similar to that between Japan and ASEAN. The RoK also expressed wish to work with ASEAN to tackle common issues in Asia-Pacific and in Northeast Asia, he noted.
ASEAN member states continue to express concern over maritime security in the context of no positive signs of sustainable peace and stability in the East Sea, which they said will hamper economic development in Asia-Pacific, including Japan and ASEAN, he said.
He commented that ASEAN has proved its increasingly significant role in regional peace and stability, while the cooperation by countries such as Japan and the RoK will give fresh impetus to ASEAN in order to reinforce solidarity and collaboration with partner countries for the sake of peace, stability and development.
