ASEAN defence chiefs have reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to address emerging security challenges, such as cyber security, potential communicable diseases and climate change.

A press statement, issued on May 7 following the 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Brunei’s capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, said ASEAN fully supports the inaugural ADMM+ Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise to be held in Brunei as a landmark cooperation among defence forces of the ADMM+ member states.

They adopted four concept papers, namely establishing ASEAN defence interaction programmes, the establishment of logistics support framework and ADMM+ experts’ working group on humanitarian mine action, the transition of the ADMM+ experts’ working group co-chairmanship.

The ministers also expressed support for their leaders’ commitment at the 22 nd ASEAN Summit to work actively with China towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to promote peace and stability.

In the Joint Declaration themed “Securing Our People, Our Future Together”, the defence ministers reiterated their commitment to fully and effectively implement the DOC.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh attended the meeting.

The ADMM is the highest defence mechanism in ASEAN which provides a platform for strategic dialogue and practical cooperation.

It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.

ASEAN groups Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.-VNA