ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on humanitarian mine action to meet

Hanoi (VNA) – The Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) will convene their fourth conference in Hanoi on October 20, the Defence Ministry told the media on October 18.

The conference, co-hosted by the Vietnamese and Indian Defence Ministries, aims to review the group’s activities for 2014-2017, discuss tasks for 2017-2020, as well as transfer the title of the co-Chair of the group to Laos and Russia for the 2017-2020 tenure.

The group was adopted by the seventh and second ADMM+ in May and August 2013 in Brunei and tasked with promoting cooperation among member countries in recovery from the aftermath of bombs, mines, and explosives left over from wars and conflicts.

Ministers agreed to assign Vietnam and India to be the first chairs for 2014-2017.

Over the past three years, cooperation within the ADMM+ humanitarian mine action framework has been deepened through a number of seminars and discussions.

In March 2016, they successfully held the conference of ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action and Peacekeeping in India.

Also on October 20, the headquarters of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre will be inaugurated in Hanoi’s outlying district of Thach That.

A development partners’ meeting will also be held, during which a map of areas suspected of contaminating with bombs and mines will debut.-VNA