Phnom Penh (VNA) – The ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2025 (ARDEX-25) opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 22.
The event was attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, Minister Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia Ngo Van Tuat, along with an array of regional and international delegates.
Opening the three-day exercise, General Kun Kim, Senior Minister in Charge of Special Mission and First Vice President of the National
Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) of Cambodia and Chair of ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management 2025, highlighted Cambodia’s high vulnerability to natural disasters, underlining the importance of preparedness and coordination.
He noted that the Cambodian Government has implemented a National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024-2028, introduced an early warning roadmap, and developed policies to enhance disaster management capacity.
He stated that ARDEX-25 contributes directly to implementing this plan and reflects Cambodia’s commitment to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by advancing regional disaster cooperation. Given ASEAN’s exposure to hazards such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tropical storms, he stressed the need for a comprehensive regional approach, as no country can tackle large-scale disasters alone.
General Kun Kim cited the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), signed in 2005, as the cornerstone of regional cooperation. AADMER provides a framework for member states to coordinate disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response, with the goal of building a resilient ASEAN Community, he said.
He emphasised that ARDEX-25 is more than a simulation — it serves as a practical application of AADMER, testing the Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination (SASOP), and evaluating both national and regional response mechanisms in simulated crises.
The exercise is expected to reveal strengths, weaknesses, and challenges in current systems, enabling more timely and effective coordination under the “One ASEAN, One Response” principle.
General Kun Kim expressed hope that the 2025 simulation would generate valuable insights and bolster regional disaster systems. He underscored the need for knowledge-sharing, mutual understanding, and stronger ties among ASEAN and international partners. This is key to building a resilient ASEAN Community — one with the resources and capacity to respond swiftly to disasters, from search and rescue to humanitarian aid, joint assessments, and recovery, he noted.
ARDEX-25 is co-organised by the NCDM and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre), bringing together over 600 participants from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and dialogue partners.
Running from July 22-24, the exercise features three components - tabletop simulation, command-post operations, and field deployment exercises./.
ASEAN bolsters comprehensive, sustainable environmental cooperation
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), in a statement on July 22, said the meeting serves as ASEAN's highest technical platform on environmental matters, bringing together senior officials from all 10 member states to strengthen regional policies, strategies and cooperation on environmental protection.
