The Vietnamese delegation, led by Senior Colonel Vu Thanh Van, Director of the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, attended the event.
In his opening speech, Mr. Haji Adi Ihram Bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud emphasized that the active participation of delegates in the ADSOM WG demonstrates the solidarity among ASEAN member countries as well as their long-term commitment to the development of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM).
    |
 |
|
Senior Colonel Vu Thanh Van, Director of the Department of External Relations at the event |
Head of Brunei’s ADSOM WG strongly believed that with the continuous support from ASEAN member nations, the country will successfully fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair in 2021.
At the event, delegates discussed the implementation of outcomes achieved at the 15th ADMM and the eighth ADMM Plus, including the consideration of the proposals of the U.K., France, Canada, and the E.U. to become observers of the ADMM Plus Experts’ Working Group. The chair also updated participants on the proposals of Russia and Japan to host the informal meeting with ASEAN defense ministers and briefed them on building a strategic document on the future of the ADMM and compilation of a book on the 15-year history of the ADMM.
|
|
 |
|
ADSOM WG takes place virtually. |
The conference agreed on the preparation for the ADMM Retreat and the informal meeting of ASEAN defense ministers with their counterparts from Australia and the Republic of Korea in November.
On the occasion, participating countries were also briefed on upcoming activities within the ADMM and ADMM Plus mechanisms, including the preparation for the ASEAN-Russia navy exercise co-chaired by Indonesia and Russia.
For his part, Senior Colonel Vu Thanh Van suggested that it is necessary to reach consensus on how to implement the observer regulation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus Experts' Working Group for partners on the basis of the ADMM's concept paper on external relations adopted at the 15th ADMM in June.
On the occasion, the Vietnamese head of delegates announced the multilateral activities that Vietnam is expected to host in the coming time, including the ADSOM WG at the end of November and the 15th meeting of the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on peacekeeping, scheduled to be held online in December. As planned, the ADSOM WG will discuss and build guiding documents for the implementation of an initiative to place the ASEAN flag next to the national flags at military units of ASEAN member states participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Translated by Tran Hoai