The event brought together delegations from the 10 ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, the ASEAN Secretariat, and eight partner countries, under the chairmanship of Malaysia as ASEAN Chair for 2025.
The meeting heard reports on the outcomes of the ADSOM+ Working Group (ADSOM+WG), updates from the ASEAN Secretariat on recent regional developments, progress in implementing the 2024-2027 work plans of the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Groups. Delegates also deliberated on the draft Joint Statement for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of ADMM+.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien attends ADSOM+ in Malaysia. |
General Chien emphasized that the adoption of the joint statement carried profound significance, reflecting unity, vision, shared commitments, and responsibilities for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region. He stressed that in the spirit of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation, Vietnam hoped that member states would set aside differences to reach consensus and ensure the success of the meeting. Vietnam also reaffirmed its full support for Malaysia’s decisions as ASEAN Chair in 2025.
On the sidelines of the ADSOM and ADSOM+ meetings, the Vietnamese defense leader held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegation from Thailand and New Zealand, and informal discussions with the heads of delegation from Australia, China, Russia, the United States, and India.
During talks with General Tharapon Malakam, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defense, General Chien suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen exchanges of delegations at all levels, effectively maintain dialogue, consultation, and information-sharing mechanisms, and promote cooperation in maritime security and safety. He also called for effective implementation of the communications mechanism between the Vietnam Coast Guard and Thai-MECC (Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center), as well as closer cooperation in naval affairs, cybersecurity, border management, and the fight against transnational organized crime.
In his meeting with Richard Schmidt, Deputy Secretary of Defense of New Zealand, the head of the Vietnamese delegation proposed enhancing high-level exchanges, consultations, and dialogue mechanisms. He also highlighted the need to prioritize cooperation in training and the United Nations peacekeeping, while exploring expanded collaboration in areas of mutual interest and capacity such as cybersecurity, military medicine, and defense industry.
While talking with Hugh Jeffrey, Deputy Secretary for Strategy, Policy and Industry at Australia’s Department of Defense, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister suggested the two sides further deepen cooperation through delegation exchanges and high-level contacts. He hoped for further collaboration between arms and services, in military medicine, war legacy settlement, defense industry, and border management; called for effective implementation of the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement signed in late July 2025. General Chien welcomed Australia’s proposal to co-chair, alongside Vietnam, the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security for the 2027-2030 cycle.
Meeting with Colonel Song Xing, Deputy Director of the Overseas Military Security Cooperation Coordination Center under China’s Office for International Military Cooperation, General Chien expressed delight at the robust growth of Vietnam - China relations, with defense cooperation identified as a key pillar. He thanked China’s Ministry of Defense for sending military personnel to participate in the parades marking the 50th anniversary of the South Liberation and National Reunification and the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of Vietnam. These gestures left strong and positive impressions, vividly embodying the close “comradeship and brotherhood” between the two countries.
During their conversation on the sidelines of ADSOM+, Major General Aleksandr Zinchenko, Deputy Director of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and the head of the Vietnamese delegation noted that bilateral defense ties have been steadily carried out on the foundation of a long-standing traditional friendship, a comprehensive strategic partnership, and the attention of senior leaders of both countries. Cooperation has been pursued in a spirit of “trust, practicality, effectiveness, and comprehensiveness,” consistent with existing agreements. General Chien also shared that Vietnam has built a monument in tribute to the Soviet military advisors who supported Vietnam in the past.
During the meeting with Andrew Byers, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese defense leader expressed his hope that U.S. agencies would work closely with Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense to effectively implement agreements on war legacy settlement. He called for continued resource mobilization to accelerate dioxin cleanup at Bien Hoa airbase, with the goal of thorough remediation, and for the U.S. support in addressing contamination hotspots at Phu Cat Airbase and other affected areas. He also urged continued cooperation in the search for Vietnamese military personnel killed or missing in action during the war.
At their meeting, the Vietnamese defense leader and Colonel Anurag Srivastava, International Cooperation Advisor at India’s Ministry of Defense, agreed to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, including delegation exchanges, especially at high levels, service-to-service cooperation, training, defense industry collaboration, and U.N. peacekeeping. They also discussed preparations for the 15th Vietnam - India Defense Policy Dialogue, to be hosted in Vietnam.
By Kieu Trinh (from Johor, Malaysia)
Translated by Tran Hoai