ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting held online

(Bqp.vn) - The 15th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-15) convened virtually on June 15. The meeting was under the chair of Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Defence II, in his capacity as Brunei Darussalam ADMM Leader.

Delegates attending the event were ASEAN defence ministers and ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi. Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang leading the Vietnamese delegation attended the event.

Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang attending the event in Hanoi, Vietnam.

During the meeting, defence ministers agreed on the adoption of new and revised Concept and Discussion Papers and Standard Operating Procedure, reached consensus on preparations for the 8th ADMM Plus, and approved the organization of informal meetings between ASEAN defence ministers and counterparts from partner countries in 2021. Participants adopted the 'Bandar Seri Begawan Joint Declaration Marking the 15th Anniversary of ADMM towards a Future-Ready, Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN'. The event also highlighted parties' commitment to forging peaceful and constructive cooperation to turn the East Sea into a water of peace, stability and prosperity via full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards soon reaching a practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)

The Vietnamese delegation at the 15th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting.

Speaking at the event, Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang expressed his support for Singapore's proposal to continue holding the ADMM Plus, which was launched in 2010 when Vietnam served as ASEAN Chair. He said the mechanism helped enhance the sharing of opinions on defence and security strategies amid regional and global challenges, as well as reflected the commitment to promoting practical cooperation between armies of the regional nations and eight partner countries for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world as well.