Regional defence talks set to begin in October
HA NOI — The region's defence ministers will converge in Ha Noi on October 12 in a bid to establish a foundation for defence co-operation, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh. It's the first time the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Defence Ministers Meeting Plus will take place in Viet Nam, which is currently the chair of ASEAN.
The meeting will also draw representatives from the region's co-operation and dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US.
Speaking at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday, Vinh said defence ministers would share experiences and discuss measures to boost co-operation among member countries and with their partners.
Top of the agenda at October's meeting will be discussions on the region's security situation and other issues of mutual concern.
The defence ministers were expected to approve a joint statement that would commit ASEAN and its partners to promoting practical co-operation for peace, stability and development, said Vinh.
Confirming the importance of the meeting, Vinh said it would mark a milestone in boosting regional co-operation with dialogue partners, especially in bolstering efforts to deal with cross-bordered security challenges that no single country or region could deal with alone.
"With that aim, ADMM+ will act as a mechanism for consultancy and co-operation in security and defence at the highest level," said Vinh.
"This will help further boost the strategic dialogues with the region's partners in the field."
Vinh said that if successful, the forum will build trust among ASEAN members and provide a chance for regional countries to exchange human resources and co-operate on security with peaceful measures and dialogue. — VNS