In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency after the meeting closed 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. 

Vinh noted that during the latest Japan – ASEAN Deputy Defence Ministerial Meeting, the Japanese side expressed the wish to further enhance collaboration with the bloc in many areas after the Vientiane Vision on ASEAN-Japan Defence Relations was issued in 2016. 

The meeting also paid attention to several emerging issues such as cyber and non-traditional security and defence challenges, along with outstanding problems such as maritime security. 

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. 

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. He noted that at the dialogue, the RoK proposed organising a RoK-ASEAN deputy defence ministers’ meeting similar to that between Japan and ASEAN. The RoK also expressed wish to work with ASEAN to deal with common issues in Asia-Pacific and in Northeast Asia. 

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 provide an impetus for ASEAN to strengthen solidarity and collaboration with partner countries for the sake of peace, stability and development.

VNA