PM Dung dilates on challenges to Asia Pacific peace Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has talked about major challenges to peace, security and development in the Asia Pacific region as well as development strategies for the Vietnam-Germany partnership in the overall Asia-Europe relationship at the Koerber Foundation in Berlin. On the morning of October 16 (Hanoi time), PM Dung and his delegation arrived in Milan, Italy for the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 10). Before his departure, PM Dung participated in a discussion hosted by the foundation in which he pointed out global challenges in the ever-changing and unforeseeable complex. The risks of armed conflicts, territorial disputes, the use of force and threat to use force, rising terrorism, and challenges of non-traditional security- climate change climate, epidemics, water resource security- are becoming increasingly prevalent, Dung said.   PM Nguyen Tan Dung delivering a speech at the Koerber Foundation. (Photo: VGP) According to the PM, in recent years, the Asia - Pacific region has emerged as a key player in enhancing the world economic connectivity which has turned it into a large economic hub, accounting for nearly 55% of global GDP and playing a very important role in the process of shaping a global order in the future. However, the region is still facing the complex situation in hot spots like the Korean peninsula and territorial sovereignty disputes, notably in the East Sea and the East China Sea. If the region’s peace, security and development get worse, the region and the world will suffer negative impacts and unpredictable corollaries. Dung called all nations around the globe to enhance responsibility, cooperation and efforts to maintain peace and stability in a sustainable manner and pay heed to dealing with global issues and protect their legitimate interests. “The countries need to promote friendship and cooperation mechanisms, build trust and resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. They should further promote the role of multilateral institutions and join hands in building a sustainable regional structure capable of effectively responding to potential challenges.” Dung said. He reiterated Vietnam’s unwavering foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of relations and being a friend and reliable partner of all countries for peace and development. “The country has spare no efforts in building sound relations and spurring mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners, especially with neighboring and ASEAN countries and strategic and traditional partners. Vietnam does not ally itself with any country to counter another while supporting powers’ policies in the Asia-Pacific if they respect international law and regional institutions and avoiding from infringing upon regional countries’ independence and sovereignty.” He noted. PM Dung stated that peace, stability and, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea are common interests of all countries inside and outside the region. The interests are guaranteed when all countries, especially those having sovereignty claims in the East Sea, comply with international law and refrain from taking unilateral actions to further complicate the situation, using force or threatening use of force. Vietnam always persistently backs the resolution of disputes through peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and regional code of conduct while resolutely defending its sacred territorial sovereignty in conformity with international law, PM Dung said. During the discussion, Dung also highlighted Germany’s rising international profile with its critically important role in resolving political and security issues and peacekeeping in the European region and the world. He laid emphasis on the strategic cooperation between Asia and Europe and the world, which will be discussed at the ASEM 10, noting that celebrations for 40 years of the Vietnam-Germany relations in 2015 will also mark the 20th anniversary of signing the cooperation framework agreement between the two continents. The Vietnamese government leader expressed his delight at the growth of the Vietnam – EU relations which has markedly contributed to stepping up the Vietnam-Germany relationship. VOV