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Dr Ng: Rapport, Understanding and Communications Essential for Regional Peace and Security
25 October 2018
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Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen speaking at the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum's first plenary session titled "International Security Governance: New Ideas and Approaches" at the Beijing International Convention Centre this morning.
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen is in China from 22 to 26 October 2018 to visit the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise and to attend the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. The annual Beijing Xiangshan Forum brings together high-level defence, military and foreign affairs leaders from around the world to discuss a range of security issues.
Dr Ng spoke today at the forum's first plenary session titled "International Security Governance: New Ideas and Approaches" alongside four other speakers: Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Hanhui, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich, Serbian Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin and Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Vice Minister of the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces Colonel-General Kim Hyong-ryong.
In his remarks, Dr Ng shared key observations as current Chair of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, specifically how Defence Ministers could and should meet regularly to exchange views and ideas instead of through the use of arms. He also noted the increase in engagements between militaries to conduct exercises, as an encouragement for countries to deal with challenging bilateral or multilateral issues. Highlighting how China should continue and step up its engagement of the World as it does here at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, ADMM-Plus and the Shangri-La Dialogue, Dr Ng said that, "It is essential for our military leaders to build rapport, understanding and confidence through interactions at various levels…to build these personal ties that can prove very useful to de-escalate tensions and prevent miscalculations…(and) when other agencies between states have disagreements, those will be the exact situations in which Defence Ministries and their militaries must not only maintain but strengthen communications to maintain the peace and allow diplomatic initiatives time to take effect."
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum is co-organised by the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies. Other topics discussed during the forum included the role of militaries in global governance, maritime security cooperation and international terrorist threats and countermeasures.
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PIONEER Magazine: Rapport, understanding key to regional security: Dr Ng