The upcoming ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting plus (ADMM+) aims to increase high-level dialogue to carry out practical cooperation in security and defence, contributing to building a region of peace and stability, said a Vietnamese senior defence officer.

At a press briefing on October 7, Deputy Defence Minister Lieut-Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh stressed the purpose of ADMM+, scheduled from October 10-13 in Hanoi for the first time under Vietnam ’s initiative.

In addition to defence ministers and senior officers from 10 ASEAN member countries, ADMM+ gathers defence ministers and officials from eight dialogue partner countries – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and the United States, according to the organiser.

Lieut-Gen. Vinh noted the difference between ADMM+ and other regional dialogue and security-defence cooperation mechanisms, saying that participating members will discuss issues of common concern, and challenges, in order to identify future practical cooperation mechanisms.

During the ADMM+, delegates will focus their discussions on five prioritised areas, including issues relating to sea security, peace keeping, medical military cooperation, anti-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Following ADMM+, Vietnam will continue hosting the ASEAN defence senior officials’ meeting working group plus (ADSOM WG+) to carry out cooperation programmes reached at the ADMM+, said Colonel Vu Tien Trong, Head of the Defence Institute for International Relations.

In 2010, the year of Vietnam holding ASEAN Chairm, Vietnam’s Defence Ministry has hosted 12 defence and military meetings, including ADMM+, within the ASEAN and ARF frameworks./.