Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang (middle) at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of National DefenceSen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang attended the 15th ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting (ADMM) which was held via videoconference on June 15.
Speakingat the event, Giang expressed his support for Singapore’s proposal tocontinue holding the ADMM Plus, which was launched in 2010 when Vietnamserved as ASEAN Chair.
He said the mechanism helped enhance the sharing ofopinions on defence and security strategies amid regional and global uncertainties,as well as reflected the commitment to promoting practical cooperation betweenarmies of the regional nations and eight dialogue partners for the sake of peace,cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Chairedby Second Defence Minister of Brunei Maj. Gen. Pehin Datu Lailaraja Dato PadukaSeri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Md Yussof, the meeting reached consensus onpreparations for the 8th ADMM Plus and approved the organisation of informal meetings between ASEAN defence ministers and counterparts from dialoguepartners this year.
Participantsadopted the Bander Seri Begawan Joint Declaration marking the 15th anniversaryof the ADMM towards building a bloc of peace and prosperity. It highlighted parties’commitment to forging peaceful and constructive cooperation to turn the EastSea into a water of peace, stability and prosperity via full and effectiveimplementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC),towards soon reaching a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea.
Partiesconcerned also pledged to promote maritime security, safety and freedom topeacefully settle disputes in the East Sea.
Inthe declaration, ASEAN member states vowed to promote joint work to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic as instructed in the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Frameworkand ASEAN defence ministers’ joint statement on collective response to theoutbreak of the pandemic, including holding dialogues to share the bestpractices and lessons, seeking new forms of cooperation, including inter-pillarand inter-sectoral coordination, supporting ASEAN’s readiness to overcome public medical emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, via the ASEANCentre of Military Medicine and the Network of ASEAN Chemical, Biological, RadiologicalDefence Experts.
Ministersalso highlighted the need to maintain and promote peace, security, stability,maritime and aviation safety and freedom. They welcomed initiatives to buildtrust such as the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), the Guidelinesfor Air Military Encounters (GAME), the ASEAN Direct Communications(ADI) and other activities within the framework of the DOC in order to enhancecommunications, foster mutual trust as well as mitigate tensions and risks ofaccidents, misunderstanding and miscalculations both in the air and at sea./.
