The keynote speech by General Secretary and President To Lam at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue received the attention of the media and international observers.
Antara news agency and Tempo newspaper of Indonesia on May 30 published articles about the keynote speech of General Secretary and President To Lam at the opening session of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, on May 29.
The articles quoted the assessment of the Vietnamese leader that the Asia-Pacific region has common interests in peace, connectivity and development, and has multi-level cooperation experience.
General Secretary and President To Lam also emphasized that ASEAN has enough motivation and determination not to let competition turn into confrontation, not to let connecting routes become dividing boundaries and not to let the security of one country become insecurity of another.
Indonesian media paid special attention to the message of General Secretary and President To Lam about the Asia-Pacific region welcoming the transparent, responsible presence, respect for international law, contributing to reducing tensions and strengthening trust between countries.
Observers believe that the above statements reflect Vietnam's consistent viewpoint in promoting multilateralism, the role of ASEAN as well as the importance of dialogue and cooperation in addressing regional and global security challenges.
Talking to a VNA reporter in Kuala Lumpur about the Shangri-La Dialogue, senior expert of the Center for Pacific Studies, Dr. Ei Sun Oh, said that Vietnam has officially stepped onto the regional "stage" with a new mindset, which is a constructive diplomatic participant for peace and stability.
According to expert Ei Sun Oh, one of the important highlights in Vietnam's message is its commitment to an international order based on rules and respect for international law.
Expert Ei Sun Oh said that this stance is particularly meaningful and has received consensus from many countries, especially the parties involved in the dispute in the East Sea.
Prioritizing a peaceful solution is extremely urgent, especially when the region has just witnessed actual confrontations between some member states.
Assessing strategic trust, senior Malaysian experts affirmed that Vietnam not only promotes these principles on the agenda but also realizes them through actions. Vietnam's hosting of the US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi has proven the country's ability in the role of a reliable and neutral "diplomatic host".
In addition, Vietnam's peaceful rise to become one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia is considered a vivid proof of the importance of building a comprehensive security structure.
Expert Ei Sun Oh believes that Vietnam's development model and security approach will make a significant contribution to building a sustainable region where the interests of all neighboring countries are valued.
