Delegates of ASEAN member countries attend the meeting(Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - ASEANdefence ministers adopted a joint statement on defence cooperation for acohesive and responsive ASEAN at their 14th meeting, held via videoconference onDecember 9.
The joint statement strongly reflects memberstates’ solidarity, unity, and commitment to regional peace, stability,cooperation, and development.
At the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting(ADMM-14), chaired by Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich, officials also discussedand approved some new concept papers and the standard operating procedure inthe ADMM, along with the ADMM work plan for 2020-2022.
They applauded Vietnam’s proactive, thorough,and effective preparations during its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.
They held that amid the complex developments ofCOVID-19, members have taken proactive and timely actions to adapt to the newcontext and actively implement set priorities and initiatives, includingsuccessfully organising ASEAN defence - military meetings.
Member states have also proposed and carried outa number of initiatives on pandemic prevention and control while performingjoint activities within the bloc’s defence - military cooperation framework,the ministers added.
Highlighting the fruitful and timely cooperationbetween ASEAN militaries in COVID-19 response, participants affirmed thatthanks to efforts by each nation and close coordination among the member states,ASEAN countries have actively and effectively carried out cooperation activitiesso as not to let the pandemic affect defence ties, thereby improving mutualunderstanding and trust, contributing to regional peace and stability, andmaintaining the bloc’s cooperative momentum and central role in ASEAN-ledmechanisms.
They agreed at the meeting to continue promotingASEAN’s proactiveness and cohesion in adapting to geopolitical and geostrategicchanges by strengthening defence connections between ASEAN members as well asbetween the bloc and partner countries, in order to respond to traditional andnon-traditional security challenges to maintain regional peace, stability, anddevelopment and bolster ASEAN’s centrality in the region and the world./.
The joint statement strongly reflects memberstates’ solidarity, unity, and commitment to regional peace, stability,cooperation, and development.
At the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting(ADMM-14), chaired by Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich, officials also discussedand approved some new concept papers and the standard operating procedure inthe ADMM, along with the ADMM work plan for 2020-2022.
They applauded Vietnam’s proactive, thorough,and effective preparations during its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.
They held that amid the complex developments ofCOVID-19, members have taken proactive and timely actions to adapt to the newcontext and actively implement set priorities and initiatives, includingsuccessfully organising ASEAN defence - military meetings.
Member states have also proposed and carried outa number of initiatives on pandemic prevention and control while performingjoint activities within the bloc’s defence - military cooperation framework,the ministers added.
Highlighting the fruitful and timely cooperationbetween ASEAN militaries in COVID-19 response, participants affirmed thatthanks to efforts by each nation and close coordination among the member states,ASEAN countries have actively and effectively carried out cooperation activitiesso as not to let the pandemic affect defence ties, thereby improving mutualunderstanding and trust, contributing to regional peace and stability, andmaintaining the bloc’s cooperative momentum and central role in ASEAN-ledmechanisms.
They agreed at the meeting to continue promotingASEAN’s proactiveness and cohesion in adapting to geopolitical and geostrategicchanges by strengthening defence connections between ASEAN members as well asbetween the bloc and partner countries, in order to respond to traditional andnon-traditional security challenges to maintain regional peace, stability, anddevelopment and bolster ASEAN’s centrality in the region and the world./.
VNA
