PANO – The 10th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM-10) under the theme “Enhancing Operational Interoperability” is underway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from August 22 to 28.

The annual meeting is hosted by navies of ASEAN members on the rotary basis. The Vietnamese delegation is led by Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam, Navy Chief of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

ASEAN Navy Chiefs posing for joint photo

At the meeting, chiefs of ASEAN navies compare notes on issues related to the theme and discuss important contents capturing their attention such as methods to deploy regular armed forces of ASEAN members in humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations; agreement on INDOMALPHI tri-lateral joint patrol in the Strait of Malacca; the program on the fleet organization transferring of Malaysia; experience of the Royal Malaysian Navy in coping with threats from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS); activities within the ANCM framework in the future; training program for ASEAN naval learners with practical exercises at sea; ASEAN maritime information sharing exercise 2017.

Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam delivered a key note at the meeting, stressing that the theme of the meeting is of great significance and necessary in the current context.

ASEAN is facing challenges such as terrorism; rising ethnic and religious conflicts; challenges and threats to regional maritime and aviation security due to violation of international law; weather abnormality and climate change causing frequent natural disasters in the region.

The above-mentioned challenges have seriously undermined peace, stability and development in the region, which cannot be successfully handled by any single nation, but the region as a whole. Therefore, navies of ASEAN countries should further strengthen collaboration to effectively cope with emerging maritime and aviation challenges.

The Vietnamese admiral emphasized the need to maintain and develop measures of confidence building so as to consolidate solidarity among navies of ASEAN counties to avoid possible division caused by other factors for the sake of their own interests. Admiral Pham Hoai Nam also called on the ASEAN navies with their responsibility to effectively implement initiatives agreed at ANCM meetings, maintain and promote the role of the Regional Maritime Security Information-Sharing Center (IFC) and the ASEAN Information Sharing Portal of ADMM+, and enhance sharing of information on maritime and aviation security.

Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam highly valued close collaboration among ASEAN navies in the organizing and implementing multilateral activities, such as the Multilateral Naval Exercise KOMODO 2016; the Naval Fleet Review 2016; the 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium held by Indonesia; and the ADMM+ Maritime Security and Counter-terrorism FTX 2016 co-held by Singapore and Brunei.

Translated by Huu Duong