At the meeting (Photo: VNA)
 
Hanoi (VNA) – Defence ministers of ASEAN and Japan on December 10 agreed to embark on a project to strengthen cyber security as the world is increasingly relying on online communication channels since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

An agreement on the project was signed on the sidelines of the virtual ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus that attracted the leading defence officials of 10 ASEAN member states and eight partner countries, including the US, China and Japan.

Speaking at the event, Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo said the new project will help enhance connectivity among defence officials and strengthen Japan and ASEAN’s capacity of coping with cyber incidents in the face of rising security threats.

Accordingly, regional defence officials will join annual debates guided by Japanese cyber security experts, with the first ones slated for next year focusing on real-life training.

A Japanese defence official said Japan supports ASEAN’s central role, solidarity and flexibility in cyber security./.

VNA