PANO – The Seventh ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference (AACC-7) officially opened this morning (August 20th) in Hanoi with the participation of the delegates from 10 ASEAN member states’ air forces.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence delivers his welcoming speech at the conference. Photo: Quang Thai

The delegates to the AACC-7, chaired by Lieutenant General Le Huu Duc, Vietnamese Air Force and Air Defence Commander, focused their discussion on “Enhancing cooperation of ASEAN  Air Forces for peace, stability and development”.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence attended and had a welcoming speech at the conference.

In his speech, the Deputy Minister said that the defence cooperation among ASEAN arm forces has helped build ASEAN confidence and solidarity.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh confirmed that “The Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam and Vietnam’s People’s Army strongly support Vietnam Air Defence – Air Force engaging actively and contributing positively to cooperation activities in ASEAN under both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as well as the cooperation between ASEAN and its extra-regional partners for the sake of long-lasting peace and sustainable stability in the region of South East Asia”.

He also expected that ASEAN Air Chiefs at the conference would come up with concrete ideas and tangible initiatives to enhance the association’s capabilities, strengthen the militaries as well as the joint capacity in dealing with non-traditional security threats.

Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (M) in a group photos with the heads of the delegations to AACC-7. Photo: Quang Thai.

Remarkably, the delegates approved Vietnam’s initiative of organising exchange activities for young officers from ASEAN Air Forces.

Lieutenant General Le Huu Duc said “this initiative will be within the purview of AACC and can be held annually on the voluntary basis and upon endorsement of ASEAN Chiefs of Air Forces”.

The enhanced cooperation among ASEAN Air Forces was said to contribute an active part to promoting and strengthening ASEAN defence – military cooperation as a concrete step forwards to realising the ASEAN Political – Security Community by 2015.

Ngoc Hung – Bao Trung