Uong Chu Luu

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly and

President of the Vietnam Peace Committee

Dear Mr. Wang Yang, Member of the Politburo of the CPC Cental Committee, and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee,

Dear Mr. Han Qide, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, and President of the CPAPD,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The International Day of Peace has a history that began since 1981 following a decision of the UN General Assembly. Thirty-one years have passed, today, many organizations and individuals around the world organize activities with many diverse forms to express the desire for peace and call for peaceful dialogue to resolve the conflicts for friendship, cooperation and development.

On behalf of the Vietnam Peace Committee I would like to convey our best wishes to all participants of the China-Southeast Asian Peace and Development Forum which is held on the International Day of Peace. We would like to express our gratitude to the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament for its initiative to organize this Forum.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our world has ever faced with uncertainty about security, politics, economics, and society as today: that is the financial economic crisis, food and energy crisis; natural disasters due to the climate change; conflicts, political instability and sovereignty disputes... Upon entering the 21st century, all the mankind had wished to put back the war. But the fact that three wars occurred in the Arab region and hundreds of large and small military conflicts as well as the continuation of hot spots, always attract the attention of the world. These create negative impact on peace and stability of the world and the region, direct obstacle to the process of development of many countries.

However, one thing worth to be mentioned is that in the complicated situation, peace, development and cooperation has always been a mainstream trend. That is the choice of the people of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China and Southeast Asian countries are in the area of dynamic economic development of the world with many similarities and common interests. However, we must also bear in mind that the impact of the global crisis and its problems requires a concerted effort to solve. Recently in our region a number of complex problems has been emerged negatively affecting peace and stability. We hope that they will be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and the commitments that countries in the region have achieved. That is entirely consistent with the fundamental interests and legitimate aspirations of the people of all the countries in the region and is constructive to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. We also hope that such incidents will not happen again.

The China-Southeast Asian Peace and Development Forum is being held on the International Day of Peace, this is a significant activity in order to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the Chinese people and the people of Southeast Asia; contributing to the protection and preservation of peace and stability as well as promoting cooperation for sustainable development in the region, implementation of the goal of “Relations between China and Southeast Asian countries: good friends, good neighbors, good partners”.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our country has gone through many years of wars with so many losses and sacrifices. Our people has peace-loving tradition and we will do our best to contribute to the peace of the region and the world.

From this forum, we hope that governments and the people in the region work together to achieve friendship and cooperation for peace, security, sustainable development and share with each other on the basis of respect for international law and the interests of the people in each and every country.

May I wish the China-Southeast Asian Peace and Development Forum Asia a great success!

Wishing good health to all of you!

Thank you very much!