Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense General Nguyen Tan Cuong led a delegation to attend the meeting.
At the event, delegates exchanged views on strengthening ASEAN unity and regional cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges.
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Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin speaks at the event. |
In his speech, the head of the Vietnamese delegation praised the Malaysian Defense Ministry's chosen theme, “ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity,” for ASEAN defense and military conferences in 2025. He stressed that in the context that non-traditional security issues have developed complicatedly, ASEAN has remained united, fostered cooperation, and achieved significant results in maintaining regional peace, stability, and security.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation at the event |
He added that the ADMM and ADMM+, along with other ASEAN-led defense cooperation mechanisms, continue to affirm their role as key platforms for defense policy consultation, mechanisms for fostering substantive defense cooperation, and enhancing the capacity to respond to regional security challenges.
General Cuong proposed key directions for ADMM and ADMM+ to further strengthen unity and cohesion within diversity while upholding ASEAN’s norms of conduct and principled stand on global and regional issues. These include resolving all disagreements through peaceful means on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of countries; refraining from the threat or use of force in international relations; complying with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982; seriously implementing international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (aka South China Sea) (DOC); and supporting the establishment of clearer, more substantial, and effective legal commitments, such as the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). ASEAN should continue to strengthen solidarity, sincerity, trust, and consensus on the basis of respecting differences among ADMM and ADMM+ member states to ensure that ADMM and ADMM+ remain dialogue and cooperation platforms for all parties.
The Vietnamese official highlighted the importance of enhancing ASEAN’s defense resilience, combining both internal and external resources, with internal resources being fundamental, strategic, long-term, and decisive, while external resources remain important and necessary.
He said that countries should effectively and harmoniously coordinate initiatives and cooperative activities within ADMM and ADMM+, as well as other regional mechanisms, especially in addressing inter-sectoral issues and ensuring a timely response to emerging security challenges.
General Cuong emphasized that Vietnam highly appreciated the joint statement on cooperation in artificial intelligence within the defense channel proposed by Malaysia's Chairmanship, which was adopted at this conference. This demonstrated ADMM’s pro-active and timely response to the global and regional concerns about artificial intelligence governance.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and delegates pose for a joint photo. |
He added that Vietnam supports continuing the implementation of the ADMM+ Expert Working Group Observer Program in appropriate forms and timelines. Regarding informal ASEAN+1 Defense Ministers' Meetings, the possibility of increasing the number of meetings from two to three should be studied to better meet the expectations of partner countries. Furthermore, enhancing the capacity to respond to common security challenges should be linked with strengthening cooperation in education and training and developing high-quality human resources. As the country responsible for education and training in ADMM and ADMM+, General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense hopes other countries will leverage their strengths, share experience, and contribute further to enhancing ASEAN's capacity.
On this occasion, the head of the Vietnamese delegation expressed his sincere thanks to the Ministries of Defense of ASEAN countries and ASEAN defense industry enterprises for attending the 2nd Vietnam Defense Expo in late 2024, contributing to the success of the Expo. General Cuong is confident that Malaysia, in general, and its Defense Ministry, in particular, will successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair in 2025.
The ADMM Retreat adopted a joint statement on cooperation in artificial intelligence in the defense channel.
By Van Hieu (from Penang, Malaysia)
Translated by Tran Hoai