In his address, General Secretary and President Lam shared some orientations for jointly building a peaceful, stable, developed, resilient Asia-Pacific with the capacity to mitigate risks early and from afar. He emphasized that rules and dialogue based on international law and the UN Charter must become effective means of truly mitigating risks. This is crucial for the seas and oceans, as they are a shared space, the lifeblood of global trade, energy, food, and supply chains.
With regards to the East Sea, the top leader said Vietnam supports the peaceful settlement of all disputes and disagreements on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam respects the legitimate rights and interests of other countries; and at the same time, resolutely and persistently defends its independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and legitimate jurisdiction in accordance with international law.
The General Secretary and President stressed the need to create an open, inclusive regional structure centered on ASEAN. Vietnam supports and is ready to cooperate closely with the Philippines, the ASEAN Chair in 2026, work with member states to strengthen peace and security, expand corridors of prosperity, promote connectivity, inclusive and sustainable development, and place the people of ASEAN at the center.
The Vietnamese leader emphasized responsible standards for new technologies and the defense industry. He stated that in defense and security, dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) should be promoted. The defense industry should serve legitimate defense and regional stability, and not become a driving force for an arms race.
“Defense preparedness is legitimate, but sustainable security cannot rest on military power alone. Still less can it be built through arms races or by increasing developmental insecurity for others. What we need instead is a development foundation capable of withstanding systemic shocks, one supported by open and diversified supply chains, seamless infrastructure connectivity, and cooperation in finance, technology and human capital. At the same time, we must advance practical collaboration in disaster relief, health security, water security, food security, energy security, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection and search-and-rescue operations. When cooperation tangibly enhances safety, safeguards livelihoods and improves the people’s quality of life, strategic trust is renewed and strengthened.”
According to General Secretary and President Lam, the Asia-Pacific region is an open space, and all countries with legitimate interests can contribute to peace, stability, and development responsibly. Contributing to regional peace also means protecting Vietnam's long-term interests. Vietnam stands ready to work with countries inside and outside the region to strengthen the rule of law, build trust, promote dialogue, enhance cooperation, minimize risks, and together build a safer, more resilient, and more prosperous Asia-Pacific.
