Vietnam attends the event (Photo: VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries shared regional security issues at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 3.
The ministers particularly touched upon cyber security and navigation security and safety in the East Sea, Major General Vu Tien Trong, Director of the Institute for Defence International Relations, told Vietnam News Agency reporters after the event.
They agreed that any disputes in the East Sea must be addressed in line with international law and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and ASEAN’s six-point principles on the East Sea .
It is necessary to move towards the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China , they said.
Major General Trong said Vietnam proposed evaluations on ASEAN collaboration over the past 10 years as well as a new cooperation roadmap for the next decade.
As scheduled, the third ADMM Plus between ASEAN defence ministers and partners from Australia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand, Russia and the US will take place on November 4.
Malaysian Defence Minister Hishamuddin Tun Husein told reporters at a press conference that the ministers expressed their deep concerns over terrorism, cyber crime and marine security during the ADMM Retreat.
The ministers witnessed the signing of the direct communication link (DCL) initiative – a hotline between ASEAN defence ministers to ensure quick communication in any emergency.
After the ADMM Retreat, defence ministers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand will have special meetings to increase their military cooperation in the Strait of Malacca.-VNA
