In his opening remarks, Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, who is also ADMM Chair, expressed thanks to ASEAN member states for their support and assistance to Laos during its ASEAN Chairmanship 2024, including the organization of ADMM-18.
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General Phan Van Giang at the event |
The Lao defense chief underlined that in the context of the current complex changes in the world situation, peace and security are the foundation for economic development and social progress. He said that the meeting looks forward to and welcomes contribution of delegates to ensure that it achieves its goals of promoting international cooperation, addressing current challenges in the region, for a “peaceful, prosperous and resilient” ASEAN.
In his speech, Gen. Giang expressed his belief that the Lao Defense Ministry will successfully assume the role of Chair of ADMM and ADMM+, continuing to strengthen solidarity and collective strength within ASEAN to flexibly and pro-actively respond to regional security challenges, for a region of peace, security, and resilience. He affirmed Vietnam’s highest level of support for Laos to fulfill its duty as ASEAN Chair 2024.
The meeting heard a report on the outcomes of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) and adopted the Laos, the Philippines and Singapore-developed Procedures for Observers of the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Groups. It also adopted other documents, including the Brunei and Singapore-developed Strategy Document “ADMM and ADMM+ Ready for the Future”; assessment of the Observer Program in the 2021-2023 period; proposal to participate in the Observer Program in the 2024-2027 period; the second ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise in 2025. It agreed on the agenda of the 11th ADMM+ to take place on November 21.
Notably, the ADMM-18 adopted the Vientiane Joint Declaration themed Together for Peace, Security and Resilience. The Joint Declaration acknowledged the complexities of geopolitical and geostrategic factors that affect regional and global peace and stability. It also confirmed that traditional and non-traditional security issues, including the impacts of climate change, energy insecurity and food scarcity, along with cultural and social changes, slowing global economic growth and advances in information technology and communications continue to pose challenges to peace, stability and security in the region and beyond.
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Delegates attends ADMM-18. |
The document emphasized the importance of the ADMM and ADMM+ in the regional security architecture, providing a framework for strategic dialogues and substantive defense cooperation with ASEAN at its center. It reaffirmed that ASEAN is an outward-looking community, values engagement and cooperation with its dialogue partners and friends through ASEAN-led mechanisms to promote mutual trust and confidence, while maintaining and enhancing ASEAN's centrality and unity, contributing to the common goal of maintaining peace and security and promoting resilience in the region and beyond.
The Joint Declaration reaffirmed adherence to the principles and essential targets in the U.N. Charter, the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in enhancing ASEAN’s centrality and unity and maintaining a rules-based regional architecture consistent with international law for the benefit of its peoples and ASEAN's central role are the main driving forces in promoting defense and security cooperation and approaches to building confidence with its partners. It also reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as a guide for ASEAN in cooperating with its external partners.
The Joint Declaration voiced support for the full implementation of the five-point consensus on Myanmar and reiterated Myanmar's commitment to finding a peaceful and long-tern solution to the current situation.
It reiterated the commitment of all parties to peaceful and constructive cooperation to make the East Sea (South China Sea) a sea of peace, stability and prosperity through the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early signing of a legally-abiding, effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Vientiane, Laos)
Translated by Mai Huong