Representatives of ASEAN member states and eight partners gathered at a virtual meeting on April 8 to prepare for a joint statement, which is expected to make public at the 8th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+/ADMM-Plus) that is slated for June 16, 2021.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s Deputy Defense Minister at the meeting. Photo: VNA

At the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus), participants from ASEAN members and Russia, China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India discussed the draft document.

Under the chair of Permanent Secretary of Brunei’a Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma'awiah, the senior officials discussed measures to tighten defense cooperation in the Covid-19.

The Brunei’s official highlighted the importance to continue strengthening regional defense cooperation and building a region of peace and safety with focus on the health and well-being of its people.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political Security Community Robert Matheus Michael Tene emphasized the importance of the ADMM + mechanism for the promotion of regional defense cooperation.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s Deputy Defense Minister, expressed concerns over regional and global security affairs, including traditional and non-traditional challenges, international cooperation amid Covid-19, and maritime security.

He affirmed that Vietnam committed to engaging more in the regional cooperation within the framework of the ADMM-Plus.

At the 7th ADMM-Plus in December 2020, the member countries acknowledged that the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions are integrated and inter-connected with ASEAN at the center and stressing the importance of freedom, openness, inclusiveness and respect for international law.