Military cooperation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN

(Bqp.vn) - The 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-17) under the theme “Military Cooperation for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN” concluded successfully in Hanoi.

During ACDFM-17. (photo: Nguyen Hai)

At the meeting, ASEAN countries highly appreciated Vietnam’s efforts. Despite the complicated situation of COVID-19, Vietnam has actively and effectively implemented the activities and initiatives planned for the 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, in which several ASEAN military-defence meetings have been successfully conducted for the past time; timely made proposals and carried out numerous initiatives in the prevention and control of the pandemic as well as the implementation of other cooperative activities within the ASEAN military-defence cooperation framework.

Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang and ambassadors, defence attaches of ASEAN countries in Hanoi in a joint photo. (photo: Nguyen Hai)

The delegates greatly appreciated the outcomes of AMIM-17 and AMOM-10, which were previously conducted in preparation for this ACDFM. They affirmed that, with the internal efforts of the respective nations and the close coordination among its members, ASEAN militaries have actively carried out all the cooperative activities effectively, especially those within the framework of ADMM-Plus EWGs. Thus, enhancing the mutual trust and understanding, strengthening the interoperability among ASEAN militaries as well as between ASEAN with its counterparts, contributing to the preservation of regional peace, stability and the maintenance of the cooperation momentum and the centrality of ASEAN-led mechanisms.

In response to COVID-19’s challenges, they affirmed that the military of respective ASEAN Member State has played the key role in both conducting its regular operations and actively participating in the collective efforts of its government, thus making significant contributions to the control and elimination of the pandemic.

The delegates at the online meeting. (photo: Nguyen Hai)

In exchanging views on the global and regional situation, the delegates acknowledged that the region is facing numerous traditional and non-traditional challenges such as maritime security, cyber security, terrorism, transnational crimes, climate change, infectious diseases… which pose threats to the regional peace and stability; affirmed the support for the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea; reached a consensus that ASEAN needs to preserve its standpoints and principles for settling the disputes and differences in a peaceful manner and on the basis of the international laws, especially the 1982 UNCLOS. In such a context, it is agreed that ASEAN militaries need to strengthen the practical cooperation and increasingly enhance the internal ASEAN cohesiveness with a view to fostering the mutual trust and joint hands in response to the challenges, thus accomplishing all the goals for the establishment of ASEAN Community, enhancing ASEAN’s central role in the region and the world.

Speaking at the meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang shared contributions of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) in responding to COVID-19. Accordingly, the VPA has actively taken part in the Government’s overall efforts to respond to the disease, such as providing quarantine locations, managing and supervising the border gate areas, joining in disinfection of “cluster” area; conducting researches and producing test kits. In addition, the VPA also enhanced bilateral cooperation with Laos, Cambodia, China, Russia and Cuba in sharing experience and providing mutual support in the fighting against the disease.

Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang speaking at ACDFM-17. (photo: Nguyen Hai)

Sharing concerns over the recent complicated situations in the East Sea, Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang requested all the relevant countries to practice self-restraint from the actions which could complicate the situation, promote dialogues and cooperation to settle the differences on the principles of the international laws, especially the 1982 UNCLOS. He also asked ASEAN’s militaries to continuously strengthen the ASEAN interoperability, further enhance the role as well as the effectiveness of the existing cooperation mechanisms in the military track so as to build trust and strengthen the solidarity of ASEAN militaries, thus creating the collective strength in response to the common challenges, at the same time, making contributions to the maintenance of ASEAN’s central role in the regional security architecture for the regional peace and stability.

Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang speaking at the hand-over ceremony of ACDFM Chairmanship from Vietnam to Brunei.

Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang handing over the ACDFM flag to Brunei.

At the meeting, delegates adopted the ASEAN Militaries’ 2-year work plan (2020-2022) and ACDFM-17 Joint Statement. They also witnessed the hand-over ceremony of ACDFM Chairmanship from Vietnam to Brunei.