(Bqp.vn) - A high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, led by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang, attended the 18th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-18) held in Vientiane, Laos on November 20. The event was under the chair of General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Laos.
During the event.
In his opening remarks, General Chansamone Chanyalath, who is also ADMM Chair, expressed thanks to ASEAN member states for their support and assistance to Laos during its ASEAN Chair 2024, including the organization of ADMM-18. He underlined that in the context of the current complex changes in the world situation, peace and security are the foundation for economic development and social progress. He said that the meeting looks forward to and welcomes contribution of delegates to ensure that it achieves its goals of promoting international cooperation, addressing current challenges in the region, for a “peaceful, prosperous and resilient” ASEAN.
Speaking at the event, General Phan Van Giang expressed his belief that the Lao Defense Ministry will successfully assume the role of Chair of ADMM and ADMM-Plus, continuing to strengthen solidarity and collective strength within ASEAN to flexibly and pro-actively respond to regional security challenges, for a region of peace, security, and resilience. He affirmed Vietnam’s highest level of support for Laos to fulfill its duty as ASEAN Chair 2024.
General Phan Van Giang attending the event.
The meeting heard a report on the outcomes of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and adopted the Laos, the Philippines and Singapore-developed Procedures for Observers of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups. It also adopted other documents, including the Brunei and Singapore-developed Strategy Document “ADMM and ADMM-Plus Ready for the Future”; assessment of the Observer Program in the 2021 - 2023 period; proposal to participate in the Observer Program in the 2024 - 2027 period; the second ASEAN - U.S. Maritime Exercise in 2025. It agreed on the agenda of the 11th ADMM-Plus to take place on November 21.
Notably, the ADMM-18 adopted the ADMM Vientiane Joint Statement themed Together for Peace, Security and Resilience. The Joint Statement acknowledged the complexities of geopolitical and geostrategic factors that affect regional and global peace and stability. It also confirmed that traditional and non-traditional security issues, including the impacts of climate change, energy insecurity and food scarcity, along with cultural and social changes,… continue to pose challenges to peace, stability and security in the region and in the world.
Delegates in a group photo.
The Joint Statement emphasized the importance of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus in the regional security architecture, providing a framework for strategic dialogues and substantive defense cooperation with ASEAN at its center. The Joint Statement reaffirmed that ASEAN is an outward-looking community, values engagement and cooperation with its dialogue partners and friends through ASEAN-led mechanisms to promote mutual trust and confidence, while maintaining and enhancing ASEAN’s centrality and unity, contributing to the common goal of maintaining peace and security and promoting resilience in the region and beyond.
The Joint Statement reiterated the commitment of all parties to peaceful and constructive cooperation to make the East Sea (South China Sea) a sea of peace, stability and prosperity through the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early signing of a legally-abiding, effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
General Phan Van Giang and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.
General Phan Van Giang and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
General Phan Van Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath.
Previously, on November 19, General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Laos.
