Vietnam spotlights ADMM’s role in building common awareness on regional security issues

Participants at the event (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of National DefenceGeneral Phan Van Giang highlightedthe role played by the ASEAN DefenceMinisters' Meeting (ADMM) overthe last 15 years in strengthening trust and building common awareness onregional security issues, including the East Sea issue, through creating a framework for defenceministerial-level dialogue and consultation in the region.

Addressing the ADMM Retreat2021 held online on November 10 under the chair of Brunei’s Second Minister ofDefence Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji AwangHalbi bin Haji Md Yussof, the Vietnamese officer said since the ADMM 2011 inIndonesia, the East Sea issue has been considered a common regional issue, and has been regularly discussed and included in joint statements by the ADMM.

Regarding challenges to ASEAN's centralrole in cooperation with its partners, Giang said in the context that big countrieshave formed more and more multilateral mechanisms and new strategies, ADMM hasand will continue to make efforts to demonstrate its role and position towards ensuringa balance of interests inside and outside the bloc, and ensure that countriesoutside ASEAN have  responsibility for common issues of the region.

Vietnam spotlights ADMM’s role in building common awareness on regional security issues (Photo: VNA)

Giang stressed that ASEAN needs to stick to its principled stance on theEast Sea, settle disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of internationallaw, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), stronglypromote the commitment of countries to abide by international law, actresponsibly, exercise self-restraint, refrain from actions that cause tensionor complicate the situation, fully and effectively implement the the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), promote the early completion of an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and UNCLOS1982.

At the retreat, Brunei said that the Retreat focuseson how to further promote the role of ADMM in moving the ASEAN Communityforward in the spirit of the ASEAN 2021 theme of “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.

He updated participants on cooperation since the 15th ADMM and the 8th ADMM inJune this year.

The Ministers alsoexchanged views on the strategic direction of ADMM on the occasion of the 15th foundinganniversary of ADMM./.

VNA