ASEAN, Australia strengthen defence cooperation

(Bqp.vn) - The ASEAN - Australia Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting was held online on November 10 under the co-chair of Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Brunei’s Second Defence Minister and Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien leading the Vietnamese delegation attended the event.

During the meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam.

At the meeting, delegates discussed future cooperation orientations to ensure that Australia’s collaboration proposals were in line with ASEAN’s priorities; appreciated the organization of this second informal meeting after the first one was held in Hanoi in February 2020; welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN - Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership set up at the first ASEAN - Australia Summit, which was an important milestone in their relations.

Delegates attending the event in Hanoi.

The delegates welcomed the vision document on ASEAN - Australia defence cooperation proposed by the Australian Defence Ministry, that created the basis for orientation of ASEAN - Australia defence cooperation in the coming time, promoted the ASEAN’s centrality, respected international laws, and ensured security and safety in the region, including the East Sea. They also highly appreciated Australia’s contribution to the ADMM-Plus framework and supported the country’s role in co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine with Brunei.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien speaking at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed the importance of the ASEAN - Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, considering it a basis for promoting bilateral cooperation, including defence ties. He highly appreciated Australia’s participation in the ADMM-Plus framework, particularly regarding practical activities via experts’ groups and believed that with the role of co-chair of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine with Brunei, Australia and ASEAN would have many practical activities to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic together.

Delegates attending the event.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien also took the occasion to thank Australia’s timely support for ASEAN member states, including Vietnam, in response to the pandemic.

During the handover ceremony in Hanoi.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and delegates in a joint photo at the handover ceremony in Hanoi.

After the meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien attended the ceremony of handing over the ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chairs in 2022 from Brunei to Cambodia. General Tia Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Cambodia received the ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chairs in 2022 from the Brunei’s Second Defence Minister.