The active participation of the Vietnamese defense delegation has contributed to the success of those conferences.
Under the theme of “Sustainable Security,” delegates attending the two conferences agreed that although many ASEAN countries are facing such challenges as terrorism, illegal migration, political conflicts, natural disasters, cross-border crimes, and cyber-attacks, they have still consolidated their positions and prestige in the international arena, and maintained a sustainable and stable environment in the region. Notably, Singapore and Vietnam have been chosen as the places to hold the first and the second DPRK-USA Summit.
Some participants pointed out that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has profoundly affected countries in the region, bringing about both new opportunities for development and challenges. On the one hand, it triggers high-tech crime, cyber-attack, data theft, false information on social media, and negatively affects national politics, defense and security. Against these common traditional and non-traditional security threats, the militaries of the countries should build capacity for joint cyberspace operations.
The participants expected that the ASEAN countries' militaries would coordinate more closely in fighting terrorism, exchanging experiences in participating in UN peacekeeping operations, combating human trafficking, preventing illegal immigration, responding to natural disasters, and exchanging delegations at all levels.
During the conferences, they proposed some solutions, including strengthening defense cooperation via dialogues, building trust between the countries, agreeing on risks of the region's security and defense, building specific coordination programs at all levels, and raising awareness of servicemen and people of the issues that the countries are solving jointly.
At the two conferences, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense also took over the role as the host country to organize those conferences next year. The Vietnamese Ministry also expressed its hope that the countries in the region will coordinate and share experiences to help Vietnam play its role as ASEAN Chair in 2020 well.
Translated by Lam Anh