The Vietnamese defense chief made that assessment at the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) held in Vientiane, Laos, on November 21.
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang attends the 11th ADMM+. |
In his opening speech, General Chansamone Chanyalath emphasized that amid quick changes in regional and international situations, ASEAN continues to uphold its centrality and connection role for cooperation and dialogue. He hoped that the 11th ADMM+ would serve as a chance to promote the defense ties between ASEAN and its partners in a more effective manner, practically contributing to peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region and the world. He took this chance to express thanks to ASEAN members states and partner countries for their support to Laos as ASEAN Chair 2024.
The meeting heard a report on the results of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM+), updates on recent intra-ASEAN cooperation situation and adopted the joint statement of ADMM+ on climate change.
Delegates also exchanged views on regional and global security issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine, between Israel and Hamas, situation in Myanmar, and situation on the Korean Peninsula. They emphasized the importance of peace and stability.
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An overview of the 11th ADMM+ |
Regarding regional security, ASEAN head delegates laid stress on the importance of compliance with principles and basic targets in the U.N. Charter, the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Bali Process and international law as well as maintenance of peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Partner countries confirmed their support to ASEAN’s central role in regional cooperation mechanisms.
Delegates highlighted the importance of maritime security, particularly in the East Sea (South China Sea), to regional and international security. Many countries agreed that disputes must be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS 1982 and stressed the guarantee of security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. Countries, including China, expressed their hopes for early conclusion of an effective, substantive, and legally-abiding Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).
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Gen. Giang talks to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 11th ADMM+. |
In his remarks, Gen. Giang spoke highly of the meeting’s theme “Together for peace, security and resilience,” saying that it reflected not only the common aspiration for a region of peace, stability and development, but also the commitment to the shared responsibility to maintain that peace, stability and development.
The Vietnamese defense minister said ADMM+ has proven its efficiency in managing regional security, enhancing dialogues and challenges-responding cooperation, becoming a defense-security cooperation pillar in Asia-Pacific security structure.
He suggested defense ties between ASEAN and its partners be attached to ASEAN’s strategic direction, especially ASEAN Community Vision 2045. He proposed continuity of promoting ASEAN centrality, leadership and strategic autonomy; respect ASEAN's fundamental principles and core values, more practical effectiveness of cooperative activities to make ADMM+ truly an important defense and security cooperation mechanism of the region and the world.
He emphasized observance of international law, the U.N. Charter; peaceful solutions for disputes, disagreements on the basis of respecting international and regional law and commitments; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations; constantly consolidating solidarity, sincerity, trust among member states; upholding dialogues, avoiding confrontations so as to make ADMM+ be always a bridge, a destination of multilateral dialogues and cooperation. He suggested partner countries respect ASEAN centrality and principles in regional cooperation activities.
Regarding East Sea issue, Gen. Giang stressed Vietnam’s view on the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), create a favorable environment for quality, effective, practical COC negotiations in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.
He suggested partner countries support ASEAN’s standpoint on the East Sea and the grouping’s efforts to build it into a sea of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
As a peace-loving country treasuring international cooperation, Vietnam is consistent with the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, being a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member in international community as well as the “Four No's” defense policy, said Gen. Giang.
The Vietnamese defense chief expressed thanks to member states for their active support to Vietnam and Japan, the co-chairs of the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations in the 2021-2023 period.
Gen. Giang invited defense and military leaders, defense industry enterprises of ASEAN member states and partner countries to the second Vietnam International Defense Expo slated for December this year.
The same day, a ceremony to hand over the role of ADMM and ADMM+ Chair to the Malaysian Defense Ministry was held solemnly.
On the sidelines of the 11th ADMM+, Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang had contact with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, talked to his Korean counterpart Kim Yong Hyun about further bilateral defense cooperation and met with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Vientiane, Laos)
Translated by Mai Huong