The event saw the attendance of defense ministers and leaders from ASEAN countries and ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Dato' Astanah Abdul Aziz. The high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, led by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff (GS) and Deputy Minister of National Defense, participated in the event.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong attends ADMM-Retreat. |
In his opening remarks, General Chansamone Chanyalath underlined that over the past years, cooperation within the framework of ADMM has made progress with the establishment of new cooperation mechanisms and related activities. These are testaments of ASEAN members’ commitment to strengthening stability, solidarity and ASEAN’s central role in building a region of peace, stability, security, and development in line with ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
However, the association has confronted a number of traditional and non-traditional security challenges, especially the complicated developments of the political security in the region and the world. General Chansamone Chanyalath evaluated the ADMM Retreat as a good opportunity for ASEAN members to discuss frankly about the mentioned issues, with a focus on the maintenance of solidarity and unity within the group.
Speaking at the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong described 2024 as a pivotal year to develop a long-term strategy for ASEAN's post-2025 vision to help ASEAN uphold its obtained achievements; consolidate its solidarity, unity, central role, and self-resilience with a common vision and strategic choice, which is cooperation and joint action for peace, stability, and security in the region while improving the capability to adapt to new developments in the region and the world.
According to the Vietnamese GS chief, the expansion of ASEAN’s defense relations through the establishment of the ADMM+ and the deployment of seven ADMM+ Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) also shows that ADMM+ is an effective mechanism to build trust, facilitate cooperation and dialogue between ASEAN and its partners. The increasing interest from external partners in joining ADMM+ in various forms reflects the success and attractiveness of this mechanism.
General Cuong stated that in order to uphold the ASEAN’s central role and strategic value, and create impetus to propel dialogue processes, build trust for peace, security and stability in the region and the world, cooperation activities within the framework of ADMM and ADMM+ need to adhere to the fundamental principles of the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN regulations and processes; respect the independence and self-reliance of ASEAN countries; maintain ASEAN’s central role; and make practical contributions to the regional peace, stability and common security.
Additionally, Vietnam is in favor of the continued implementation of the ADMM+ EWG observership program and welcomes new participants to make practical and effective contributions to the region’s peace, cooperation and development. He stressed the need to be consistent with ASEAN's stance and principles on international and regional issues directly affecting ASEAN to maintain and promote its unity and solidarity.
On the occasion, Gen. Cuong invited defense and military leaders, defense industry enterprises and military music bands of ASEAN countries to the second Vietnam International Defense Expo and the ASEAN military music exchange in Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army at the end of this year.
The head of the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation shared that the expo is an occasion for participating countries to exchange expertise, seek cooperative opportunities in defense industry, and share the benefits to strengthen defense potential. He also emphasized that Vietnam consistently advocates for peaceful dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes, adding that in the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, Vietnam remains committed to upholding international law, adhering to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and hopes to soon conclude a more concrete, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
At the conference, defense ministers and leaders from ASEAN countries voiced their opinions about the regional and international security, affirming the need for ASEAN to strengthen its solidarity, maintain its central role, and take the lead in regional cooperation mechanisms to timely respond to emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as armed conflicts, competition between the great powers, cybersecurity, natural disasters, pandemics and climate change, to name but a few.
They committed to maintaining the role of ADMM and ADMM+ as the highest-level ministerial defense and military cooperation mechanisms for ASEAN member states and partner countries.
The meeting also adopted a Joint Statement on ADMM’s achievements in service of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025.
Reported by Ngoc Ha from Luang Prabang, Laos
Translated by Quynh Oanh