Defence officials from 17 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) member countries gathered in the central coastal city of Nha Trang on March 18 to discuss the world and regional situation as well as common security issues.

The second Defence Officials' Dialogue (DoD), co-hosted by Vietnam and India, is part of the ASEAN Regional Forum Intercessional Support Group on Confidence Building and Preventive Diplomacy (ARF ISG CBMPD) session being held in Vietnam from March 17-20.

At this dialogue, the defence officials sought ways to raise effectiveness in security and national defense cooperation among ARF member countries and to mitigate consequences from natural disasters.

On the sidelines of the dialogue, the defence officials visited the Vietnam Navy Institute/.