Defense Ministers Meet Bilaterally at ADMM
On August 28, in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, ASEAN Defense Ministers held the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Retreat (ADMM Retreat) and had an informal ASEAN-US meeting.
Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh (second from right) and heads of delegations of other countries at the conference. (Photo: THX/VNA)
A high-ranking Vietnamese military delegation led by General Phung Quang Thanh, Minister of National Defense, attended these conferences.
At the ADMM Retreat, the ministers focused on discussing regional and international security and defense issues, emphasizing the importance of defense cooperation in the goal of building the ASEAN Political-Security Community by 2015.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to jointly address security and defense challenges through cooperation within the ADMM and ADMM+ (ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus) mechanisms; agreed to strengthen cooperation to address non-traditional security challenges such as in the areas of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime security.
The meeting also focused on ways to develop and strengthen the ADMM and ADMM+ processes. The ministers noted that new areas of concern such as cyber security also needed to be addressed. The ministers also agreed to strengthen practical confidence-building measures, such as opening communication lines to reduce the risk of incidents, especially at sea. The meeting also assessed that the growing military-to-military relationship is a key driver of defense cooperation. The ministers also stressed the importance of ASEAN centrality in the ADMM+ process.
On the sidelines of the ADMM Retreat, regional defense ministers also held an informal ASEAN-US meeting.
At the meeting, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel highly appreciated the role of host country Brunei in organizing the second ADMM+; presented a number of international issues, affirming that despite financial difficulties due to the economic crisis, the US is still implementing the rebalancing policy in the Asia-Pacific region; the US wishes to cooperate with ASEAN countries in all fields, supporting a regional cooperation mechanism with ASEAN playing a central role. The US hopes that disputes in the East Sea will be resolved peacefully and the US will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the region.
In addition, Defense Secretary Hagel also officially invited defense ministers of ASEAN countries to attend an informal meeting with the US Secretary of Defense in the near future.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Phung Quang Thanh expressed that Vietnam welcomes the US policy contributing to maintaining peace, stability, ensuring maritime security and safety in the region. Vietnam also hopes that the US will continue to participate in the process of overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam.
Also within the framework of ADMM+, on the afternoon of August 28, Minister of National Defense Phung Quang Thanh had bilateral meetings with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera, South Korean Minister of Defense Kim Kwan-jin, and Malaysian Minister of Defense Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Husein.
At a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Minister Phung Quang Thanh affirmed that Vietnam values comprehensive cooperation with the United States in many aspects, including defense cooperation.
Minister Phung Quang Thanh mentioned that the recent visit to the United States by President Truong Tan Sang opened a new framework in Vietnam-US cooperation when the two countries established a comprehensive partnership, hoping that the two countries would continue to develop this relationship for the benefit of the people of both countries.
Regarding specific issues, Minister Phung Quang Thanh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to promote the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting defense cooperation signed between the two countries, focusing on overcoming the consequences of war. The Minister emphasized that Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions to help the United States in resolving the MIA issue, and at the same time requested that the United States continue to participate in resolving the consequences of war in Vietnam, including providing information about Vietnamese soldiers who went missing during the war.
Secretary Chuck Hagel pledged that the United States will continue to cooperate in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting Vietnam-US defense cooperation, helping Vietnam clear mines and dioxin, and supporting Vietnam in participating in peacekeeping activities.
During the bilateral meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, the two Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the development of the cooperative relationship between the two countries in general and the defense cooperation in particular. Vietnam and Japan have established a strategic partnership, the basis for the two countries to continue to promote mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides have exchanged many high-level delegations in recent times to strengthen cooperation in the defense field.
Minister Phung Quang Thanh expressed his gratitude for the ODA aid that Japan has provided to Vietnam in recent times, and wished to continue developing cooperative relations in many aspects, including defense cooperation with Japan.
In a bilateral meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh affirmed that Vietnam and South Korea have close relations; the two countries are strategic partners. In recent times, South Korea has helped Vietnam in building its coast guard force, shared experiences in participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force, and provided training scholarships for officers of the Vietnam People's Army...
On the basis of that good relationship, Vietnam wishes to have a closer defense cooperation relationship with Korea, increasing the exchange of delegations. On this occasion, Minister Phung Quang Thanh also invited the Korean Defense Minister to visit Vietnam; the Korean Defense Minister happily accepted the invitation and also invited Minister Phung Quang Thanh to visit Korea.
During a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Husein, the two Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the close and cordial relationship between Vietnam and Malaysia. In the face of regional security challenges, the two Ministers expressed their views on the need to strengthen intra-ASEAN cooperation to maintain the unity and strength of the Association.
Minister Phung Quang Thanh affirmed that “countries need to maintain the spirit of independence and self-reliance of each country, not allowing themselves to be divided or enticed to weaken the strength of the Association. Based on national and regional interests, countries need to continue to cooperate more closely in various fields, including defense cooperation, contributing to the process of building ASEAN into a strong organization with an important role in regional and international security issues.”
Minister Phung Quang Thanh also invited the Malaysian Minister of Defense to visit Vietnam; Malaysian Minister of Defense Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Husein happily accepted the invitation.
As planned, on August 29, defense ministers of ASEAN countries and senior defense officials of eight dialogue partner countries will attend ADMM+.
After its first successful organization in Vietnam in 2010, ADMM+ was highly appreciated and became a tool to connect ASEAN's dialogue partners to participate in dialogue and cooperation in the fields of defense and security to ensure peace, stability and development in the region, towards the goal of establishing the ASEAN Community in 2015./.
According to VNA - LT
