The International Institute for Strategic Studies 31d ago

‘The Asia-Pacific is an open space, and all countries with legitimate interests can have a role to play in contributing to its peace, stability and development,’ said His Excellency Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in his Keynote Address to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday 29 May 2026. ‘The region welcomes engagement that is transparent, responsible, respectful of international law, supportive of ASEAN centrality, and conducive to reducing tensions. What the region seeks is neither the mere presence nor absence of any major power. What it seeks is responsible commitment. We recognize that competition is an enduring reality of international relations. But competition must remain bounded by law, guided by transparency, and exercised with restraint.’ IISS Shangri-La Dialogue   29–31 May 2026 #IISS_SLD26 go.iiss.org/SLD26