Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that while delivering a speech at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) in Phnom Penh on May 18.
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister also emphasized that the security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea (or South China Sea) is extremely important for countries in the region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Therefore, it is essential to observe the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate the early signing of a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The head of the Vietnamese delegation expressed his wish that all countries would settle conflicts and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of respecting international law and the United Nations Charter as well as ASEAN's basic principles.
He added that besides emerging non-traditional security challenges, there have been new and complicated developments in traditional security ones. In that context, Vietnam has always been consistent in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization and diversification of relations.
The ADSOM+ took place in Cambodia with the participation of heads of ADSOM from ASEAN member nations and its partners, including Russia, China, the U.S., Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India, and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community Robert Matheus Michael Tene.
In his opening speech, Director General of the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs under the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense General Nem Sowath highly appreciated and thanked ASEAN members for their joint commitments and efforts and the support of partner countries to promote substantive cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community emphasized the importance of ADMM+ to promoting regional defense cooperation.
At the event, delegates were briefed on the outcomes of the ADSOM+ Working Group’s meeting, ASEAN’s cooperation over the past time, and the progress of cooperation between ADMM+ experts’ working groups.
Participants also exchanged views on international and regional defense and security situation and discussed the ADMM+ joint statement and preparations for the ADMM+ meeting slated for this November.
Since its establishment in 2010 in Hanoi, ADMM+ has been considered an important forum for defense leaders of 18 countries to talk about peace, cooperation, and mutual development.
According to the Vietnamese deputy defense minister, ASEAN's centrality is a key factor to connect and orientate to help ASEAN become one of the most successful defense and security forums in the world over the past ten years.
Concluding his speech, the head of the Vietnamese delegation said that Vietnam believes and hopes that conferences within the ASEAN framework, including ADSOM and ADSOM+, will help enhance the image and position of ASEAN and make the association further develop.
    |
 |
|
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien attends the event. |
Before the opening ceremony of ADSOM+, ADSOM+ heads paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Tea Banh.
ADSOM and ADSOM+ are important meetings in preparation for ADMM scheduled to take place in June and ADMM+ slated for November.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
Translated by Tran Hoai