Heads of delegation to ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (Source: VNA)Singapore (VNA) – Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut.Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) in Singapore on February 6.
The retreat discussedorientations for defence-security cooperation among ASEAN nations in 2018,which focuses on counter-terrorism, collaboration in responding to chemical,biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, and a Code for UnplannedEncounters at Sea (CUES) as proposed by Singapore – the Chair of ASEAN thisyear.
Along with newly arisingchallenges, heads of delegation to the event agreed that the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs maintain unity and keep vigilant over oldsecurity challenges such as sovereignty and territorial disputes and maritimesecurity.
Speaking at the meeting, Vinhaffirmed that Vietnam welcomed the three targets of the ASEAN in 2018 asproposed by Singapore, stressing the need for strengthened cooperation incoping with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.
For the past five decades,Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have suffered serious consequences of chemicalweapons used during wartime, he said, adding that Vietnam is willing to shareexperience in preventing and decontaminating toxic chemicals.
Regarding the CUES, Vinhemphasised that it must be associated with the East Sea issue, especially inpreparation for the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
As there remain latent risks inthe East Sea issue, the ASEAN member states should continue intensifyingcooperation and sharing information about the sea situation, with the focusplaced on abiding by international law, respecting the diplomatic and legalprocesses, maintaining maritime and aviation security and safety by strictly implementingthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and workingtowards the early finalisation of the legally-binding COC, Vinh suggested.
On the sidelines of the ADMMRetreat, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong received the heads ofdelegation. He spoke highly of the countries’ contributions to the ASEANdefence cooperation process and stressed the need to strengthen solidarity withinthe bloc to tackle common security challenges.
The ASEAN-China Defence MinistersInformal Meeting also took place with the participation of defence leaders ofthe ASEAN member nations and Chinese Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. ChangWanquan.
The ASEAN defence leadersaffirmed that cooperative relations between the ASEAN and China are developingfruitfully many areas. The ASEAN countries expect that through cooperation,China will contribute to strengthening peace, stability and security in theregion.-VNA
VNA
