Security in the region as well as in the world is getting more complex, posing a challenge to regional countries and requiring cooperation among them, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The President made the comment at his reception for defence ministers and minister representatives of ASEAN member countries and eight partners at the first ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting - Plus (ADMM+) in Hanoi on October 12.

At the reception, which was also attended by ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, President Triet warmly welcomed the success of the first ADMM+ and highly valued contributions by ASEAN defence ministers and minister representatives as well as dialogue partners to the meeting.

He underlined that the joining in the highest regional defence cooperation mechanism affirmed these countries’ concerns about the enhancement of defence and security cooperation.

The President highly valued the participants to the meeting for their discussions and introduction of contents to orientate defence and security cooperation in the future.

He affirmed that humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security, counter-terrorism, military medicine, and the UN’s peacekeeping activities are practical issues for each country.

President Triet expressed his belief that based on the initial foundation of consensus and high levels of agreement, ASEAN member countries and their partners would boost their exchanges and cooperation to promote security to counter complex issues in the region more effectively.

He expressed his hope that defence ministers and minister representatives of ASEAN countries and partners would deploy their resources and cooperate more efficiently to ensure security and development for each country.

President Triet reiterated Vietnam ’s message that it longs for peace, friendship, cooperation and development and is a friend and reliable partner of all countries. Vietnam wants to join hands with other countries for solidarity, friendship, and cooperation in development.

On behalf of the participants to the first ADMM+, Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the first ADMM+ provided a forum for security dialogues and strategic consultancy and acted as an effective and practical cooperation mechanism to address common security challenges.

The Indonesian minister spoke highly of Vietnam ’s efforts to make the meeting successful and congratulated the Vietnamese State and people on the 1,000 th founding anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi./.