Deputies from 10 ASEAN member countries and dialogue countries of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the US and Russia join the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) Working Group in Đà Nẵng yesterday. —VNS Photo Trần Lâm

ĐÀ NẴNG — Deputies from 10 ASEAN member countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the US and Russia began discussions and shared views on defence co-operation in the region at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) Working Group in the central city yesterday.

The meeting, which was the second event after the ASEAN Defence Senior Official’s Working Group Meeting on Thursday, involved preparations for the 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) Plus to be held in Hà Nội in August 2020.

The ADMM-Plus Working Group was an opportunity for participants to review the progress of working groups in 2017-19, and mapping out those for the 2020-22 term.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Defence Minister of Việt Nam Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh said he highly appreciated the participation of the officials from ASEAN and dialogue partners.

“Việt Nam wishes to work with ASEAN and partners to successfully organise all ASEAN defence and military meetings this year. We intend to host about 20 defence and military meetings, including the ADMM, ADMM Plus; the ASEAN Chief of Defence Forces Meeting in Intelligence and Operation; the ASEAN Chiefs of Navy Meeting; ASEAN Air Force Chiefs’ Conference and the second ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercises,” Vịnh said.

Deputy Defence Minister of Việt Nam Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh speaks at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) Working Group in the central city of Đà Nẵng. — VNS Photo Trần Lâm

“This year marks a number of important milestones for ASEAN, including the five year anniversary of the ASEAN Community and the 10th anniversary of the founding of ADMM Plus,” he said.

He added that Việt Nam will also mark the 75th anniversaries of its National Day; the 65th anniversary of the Việt Nam Navy and the 25th anniversary of Việt Nam joining ASEAN.  

Vịnh stressed that the ADSOM Working Group and ADSOM Plus Working Group are the first activities to start the series of meetings in the ASEAN defence and military channel in 2020.

“Việt Nam's Ministry of Defence values the role of these meetings and believes the issues participants discuss here today will act as a solid foundation for ADSOM/ADSOM Plus to endorse and subsequently be adopted by ADMM/ADMM Plus to promote ASEAN defence co-operation for peace and development of our region.”

The deputy defence minister also said Việt Nam will host the first International Exhibition on Military weapons and equipment in 2020.

At the opening ceremony, Vịnh also stressed the important contribution of ADMM and ADMM Plus.

“Since their establishment, ADMM and ADMM Plus have greatly contributed to the peace and stability of the region through strategic dialogues and promoting practical co-operation among the defence forces of ADMM Plus. We are very happy to witness the growing interest of non-plus countries in ADMM and ADMM Plus,” he said.

“In the last 10 years, a number of new regional and ASEAN issues have emerged, and for me it’s a reality that ASEAN and its partners need to face during this period and this reality also serves as the driving force for ADMM and ADMM Plus to develop,” he continued.

“In the next 10 years and beyond, the pressing issue is to promote the effectiveness of ASEAN co-operation and mechanisms, and thus maintain the central role of ASEAN within the regional security architecture.

“ADMM and ADMM Plus play a crucial role in providing strategic balance, ensuring an equal voice for all, and encouraging active and responsible contributions of member states including dialogue partners of ASEAN.”  

The Ministry of Defence of Việt Nam has chosen the theme ‘Defence co-operation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN’ for the defence sector in the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020. — VNS