Opening of the Informal ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting

The 12th ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting opened on the morning of February 10 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A high-ranking military delegation of the Vietnam People's Army led by Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty - Chief of the General Staff attended the conference.

Commanders of ASEAN defense forces at the conference.

The 12th ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting has the theme “Maintaining regional stability and security for the people and by the people”.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the host country's representative - General Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, Commander of the Malaysian Defense Force, emphasized that in the context of regional security facing many complex and unpredictable challenges, ASEAN's unity and defense cooperation play a vital role in helping ASEAN achieve its goal of building a people-centered community.

“The nature of ASEAN is interdependent and interlinked societies, so the armed forces need to work together and in harmony to ensure regional stability and security. No one is an island unto themselves because united we survive, divided we fail. There is no other alternative for regional stability and security, especially for a society as closely knit as that of Southeast Asia,” said General Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, Chief of the Malaysian Defence Force.

At this conference, ASEAN Defense Chiefs will discuss two main issues. First, emerging security challenges in the region include traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including cyber security and ensuring maritime security in the East Sea.

In addition, ASEAN Defense Chiefs will also discuss regional defense cooperation programs such as search and rescue exercises, coordinated maritime patrols, establishment of naval hotlines, etc., as well as discuss specific defense cooperation programs in the coming time.

According to VTV