ASEAN looks into security challenges

HA NOI — Faced with non-traditional security challenges, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needed to co-operate closely to tackle terrorism, piracy, climate change and epidemics, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

He was speaking while receiving delegates to the 7th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-7), which was held in Ha Noi yesterday.

Dung highly valued the outcome of the meeting, saying that its success would be an important contribution to the building of an ASEAN community with the three major pillars of political security, economic security and cultural and social security.

Results achieved at the meeting would create the foundation for fostering co-operation between armed forces among ASEAN member countries, he said.

Dung added that apart from implementing regional co-operation based on agreements reached at the meeting, member countries also needed to develop co-operation with international partners

The success of the ACDFIM-7, the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting would practically contribute to regional and international security and peace, he said.

On behalf of leaders of ASEAN defence forces, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Major General Haji Aminudin Ishan said that the outcome of the ACDFIM-7 would be a solid basis for rapid development in regional defence co-operation.

Defence chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Ha Noi yesterday to discuss a range of issues, including new security threats to the region.

Addressing the ACDFIM-7,Viet Nam People's Army Chief of General Staff, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Khac Nghien said new security issues such as the impact of global warning and international terrorism were threatening peace and stability in the region.

"While there is peace across the region, new security threats have emerged that threaten peace, stability and security in individual ASEAN countries as well as the region as a whole," said Nghien.

"There are threats posed by collusion between radical groups in the region and international terrorism, as well as threats stemming from severe natural catastrophes and the spread of diseases as a result of climate change.

"We are also confronting challenges in maritime, food and energy security."

The event is one of 13 meetings being held bythe Ministry of Defence during 2010, and comes as Viet Nam takes its turn to head ASEAN this year. The series of meetings aim to boost effective co-operation among regional armies in dealing with new security challenges.

"Enhanced co-operation will help us overcome these new challenges," said Nghien.

Participants at the meeting reviewed and approved an action plan for the 2010-11 period that aims to guide multilateral military co-operative activities among ASEAN countries.

The Viet Nam People's Army has also proposed boosting co-operation in search and rescue activities as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The ACDFIM was initially organised as a forum to build trust and informal links between ASEAN member countries, and is now increasingly being used as a forum to discuss practical co-operation. — VNS