'Asia-Pacific region becomes center of world development'

SINGAPORE (Xinhua) - The Asia-Pacific region, which once experienced confrontation, division and wars, has made a strong bend to a region with the most dynamic cooperation and development, said Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, on Sunday.

Speaking at the 12th Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, Vinh said geopolitically, Asia-Pacific has three permanent members of the UN Security Council. In terms of future development, Asia- Pacific is the center stage of countries with high technology, advanced management, abundant work force and plentiful natural resources.

"With the above-mentioned strategic status and big potential, together with the major trend of peace, cooperation and development, Asia-Pacific is enjoying great opportunities to make a decisive contribution to the global development in the 21st century," he said.

Vinh thinks the region, however, is not absolutely stable, saying that the increase of military engagement and the competition for influence of nations are driving the region to new challenges, of which arms race is one example.

In addition, he said, the scale and complicated nature of non- traditional security challenges are on the rise. No single country can deal with these challenges by itself.

As for the Asia-Pacific defense cooperation, ten ASEAN nations have gained the common sense, strong determination, collective efforts and effective cooperation, and are now advancing toward the target of the establishment of the AESAN community in 2015, according to Vinh.

In order to preserve regional peace and stability, the ASEAN member states wish to establish a strong cooperation mechanism. Thus, ASEAN organized the 1st ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting ( ADMM) successfully in Malaysia in 2006. Since ADMM was established, there have been major progresses in building confidence, strengthening solidarity and promoting cooperation.

Vinh expressed the view that all countries, especially major powers, should have truthful cooperation, show their clear determination, make proper investment, combine commitment with actions, and prove their responsibility in real actions.

The 12th Shangri-la dialogue or Asia security summit organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies opened on May 31 and gathered defense ministers, vice ministers, senior military officials and scholars from over 20 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as countries in North America, Europe and the Middle East.