Building peace requires cooperation among nations – this was the main theme of the speech by Mr. Christian Schmidt (State Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany) to students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on June 6, 2012.Christian Schmidt argued that today's security threats are no longer just a matter for individual nations, such as terrorism and the spread of organized crime. A single country cannot cope with and overcome these issues; close cooperation among many countries and regions worldwide is necessary. Based on the understanding that security problems have deep roots in economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues, Christian Schmidt stated that a comprehensive security policy is needed, with armed action being just one measure alongside many others: diplomacy, economic cooperation, regional cooperation, etc. Only then can the root causes of terrorism, crime, and conflict be addressed. Sharing the experiences of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union, the speaker also emphasized the need for peace, cooperation, and multilateralism in resolving regional and global security issues. To thoroughly address the risks of instability, the world needs to focus on building peace, starting with cooperation based on the harmonious interests of all nations. The State Secretary also mentioned the declaration on establishing a strategic partnership signed between the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011, which outlines strategic cooperation in politics, trade and economics, justice and law, culture and education, media, and environmental protection. Based on this, the Ministries of Defense of the two countries can implement cooperation in the field of security.
Mr. Christian Schmidt's presentation attracted considerable interest from students and faculty members of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. During the discussion, Mr. Schmidt received numerous questions from students regarding regional and national security risks in relation to global economic and financial issues; whether an international government should be established to maintain security and peace; experiences in maintaining security and cooperation within the European Union; and Germany's role and attitude in resolving disputes in various regions of the world today.
