The 7th ASEAN Chief of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-7) will be held in Hanoi on March 24-27, aiming to boost the effectiveness of cooperation among regional armies in response to non-traditional security threats.

ACDFIM-7 is among 13 meetings being held by the Viietnamese Defence Ministry in 2010 as Vietnam officially holds the ASEAN Chair for one year, Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tuan Dung, Vice Chairman of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army, said at a press conference on March 12 in Hanoi .

Senior officers from 10 ASEAN armies and defence attachés of ASEAN countries located in Hanoi will attend the meeting, he said, adding they are expected to approve the ACDFIM-7 Solution and a plan of action for 2010-2011 at the end of the meeting.

Lieut. Gen. Dung said successfully organising ACDFIM-7 and other defence and military meetings would help promote the image of the people, land and army of Vietnam on its development track. It will also convey a message to international friends that the Vietnam People’s Army is responsible and actively contributes to building an ASEAN of solidarity, unity, cooperation and mutual assistance.

This will be a chance for Vietnam to emphasise its defence policy of peace, self-defence, as well as the country’s desire for peace, stability, cooperation with ASEAN countries and other nations in the world, Dung said.

Defence and military meetings, including ACDFIM-7, play a special important role in defence, security and military cooperation among ASEAN countries and ensure a peaceful and stable environment in the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.

They contribute to building mutual understanding, trust, solidarity and friendship among ASEAN armies and stress the role of ASEAN army in activities regarding sovereignty protection, national interests and keeping national stability and security.

ACDFIM was initially set up as a forum regarding trust-building and informal connectivity and then it turns from dialogue into practical cooperation due to the increasing demand on cooperation among ASEAN armies./.