Vietnam commits to cybersecurity co-operation with ASEAN: deputy minister

He was speaking at a teleconference of ASEAN ministers on cybersecurity on Wednesday.

Việt Nam recognises the need and importance of building responsible codes of conduct online to maintain healthy, safe cyberspace and ensure information security amid the huge changes of digital transformation, he said.

The Vietnamese Government has assigned the Ministry of Public Security to finalise a legal framework on cybersecurity consistent with regional and international standards to facilitate tightening cybersecurity, cybercrime prevention and control in Việt Nam as well as international co-operation, he said.

Việt Nam has implemented the 'National Digital Transformation Programme towards 2025, with a vision to 2030' with the aim of making the country among 50 leading e-government countries.

“In this digital transformation process, network information security and safety is the key factor in creating a safe environment for digital transformation,” he said.

The Ministry of Public Security has focused on protecting critical information infrastructures through promoting training, improving qualifications and capacity of the specialised security teams as well as conducting research to develop and apply advanced software and technology.

The ministry has also paid attention to international co-operation with countries inside and outside the region to respond to attacks on information infrastructures, he said.

At the meeting, delegates from ASEAN countries agreed on the spirit of working together to address cybersecurity challenges in a comprehensive and sustainable way.

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi said promoting regional cybersecurity co-operation has become important and served as a driving force for member countries to complete the overall ASEAN post-COVID-19 recovery.

S Iswaran, Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity, applauded ASEAN member states for their steadfast focus on strengthening cybersecurity, domestically and in collaboration with regional and international partners.

Singapore is ready to work with all ASEAN partners to safeguard cyberspace, he said.

To enhance security for operational technology (OT) and the internet of things, Iswaran announced that the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore will establish an OT Cybersecurity Expert Panel and launch the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme.

The ASEAN ministerial meeting on cybersecurity was held within the framework of Singapore International Cyber Week 2020 which is taking place from October 5 to 9.

ASEAN senior officials’ meeting

Việt Nam, as ASEAN Chair 2020, is preparing for the 37th ASEAN Summit to take place in November, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng at the virtual ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese diplomat highly appreciated the co-operation of ASEAN member countries with Việt Nam in the role of ASEAN Chair 2020 and proposed more co-ordination of ASEAN member countries and agencies to complete priorities this year, including initiatives in response to COVID-19.

Discussing co-operation within the bloc, delegates expressed their satisfaction at the outcomes since early this year.

Chaired by Việt Nam, the ASEAN Community building process has been actively implemented, with ASEAN's initiatives in 2020 on schedule. A mid-term review of the ASEAN Community Vision Blueprint 2025’s implementation on all three pillars is being finalised.

ASEAN agreed to build the Hanoi Declaration on the post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision and report the review of the ASEAN Charter’s implementation.

Member countries also believed sub-regional development plays an important role in community building. Therefore, ASEAN should co-ordinate co-operation in the sub-regions.

The ASEAN SOM reaffirmed ASEAN's viewpoints on the South China Sea (called East Sea by Việt Nam) issues which received consensus at the 36th ASEAN Summit and 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.

It highlighted the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the sea. The countries committed to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work with China to soon complete the negotiation of an effective and pragmatic code of conduct in the East Sea (COC), ensuring its consistency with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

ASEAN senior officials also urged health officials to finalise the ASEAN code of conduct on responding to public health emergencies.

They showed consensus on building an ASEAN travel corridor in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, ASEAN member countries stressed the importance of ASEAN's central role and agreed to support Việt Nam’s proposal to issue the ASEAN+3 Declaration on Economic and Financial Self-Reliance to respond to emerging challenges. — VNS