The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Defense Officials' Dialogue (ARF - DOD) opened in Luang Prabang, Laos on May 5, with much emphasis on humanitarian and security issues.

With the theme of promoting peace and security via dialogue and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, the dialogue focused on the cooperation between the army and people in providing humanitarian aid and overcoming disaster consequences, as well as regional peacekeeping and cybersecurity.

Participants at the event. Photo: Vietnam+

Opening the event, Pheuangsay Milacong, Head of the ASEAN Policy and Security Division under the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Lao Ministry of National Defense, said the one-day dialogue would seek and further push cooperation from ASEAN’s dialogue countries to solve the above-mentioned issues.

The forum also showed strong determination in pursuing a foreign policy to boost friendship and cooperation between ASEAN member nations and the bloc’s partner and dialogue countries.

Lieutenant colonel Pheuangsay Milacong hoped delegates will make positive and constructive contributions to achieve the goals of the dialogue as an effort to further intensify the relationship and practical cooperation in solving current and future security challenges, and together maintain peace, stability and security in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Major General Vu Tien Trong, Director of the Institute for Defence International Relations under the Ministry of National Defence.

Source: VNA