DAV holds seminar with former Japanese Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto

On November 16th, 2019, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) held a seminar on regional issues with former Defence Minister of Japan Satoshi Morimoto, the 11th Japanese Minister of Defence. Currently, Satoshi Morimoto is a national security and defence policy analyst and Chancellor of Takushoku University. The seminar took place within the framework of Mr. Morimoto’s visit to some Asian countries, including Vietnam, from December 14th to 16th, 2019. Attending the seminar were approximately 70 delegates from units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, research institutes in the country and researchers, lecturers and students of the DAV.

In his opening remarks, DAV President Prof. Dr. Nguyen Vu Tung thanked Mr. Satoshi Morimoto for his consideration and time to come to talk at the DAV. At the same time, he stated that the seminar showed the good relationship between the two countries Vietnam and Japan in general and between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Japan Embassy in Hanoi in particular.

In his presentation at the seminar, Satoshi Morimoto pointed out major issues in the security situations of Northeast Asia, Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific Ocean regions. He particularly gave in-depth analysis into the US-China competition, the rise of China, US policy change to China, and regional hot spots like the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan. Mr. Morimoto stated that the region’s post-Cold War structure was still shaping, thus the current complex situation would continue. In such context, Vietnam and Japan should boost closer cooperation within their extensive strategic partnership framework for peace and prosperity in Asia. Moreover, he said that Vietnam and Japan should coordinate better at multilateral forums, as well as work together to promote the role of ASEAN and the United Nations in the settlement of common challenges, contributing to stability and development in Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

The seminar took place in an open, lively atmosphere.