General Phan Van Giang highly appreciated the effectiveness of ADMM+ in regional security management.

General Phan Van Giang delivered a speech at the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

On November 21, in Vientiane (Laos), the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) took place under the chairmanship of General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Laos.

The conference was attended by the Ministers of Defense, representatives of the Ministers of Defense of ASEAN countries and 8 partner countries including: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States. General Phan Van Giang - Member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam - led a high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam to attend the conference.

Đại tướng Phan Văn Giang đánh giá cao hiệu quả quản lý an ninh khu vực của ADMM+

General Phan Van Giang attends the 11th ADMM+. Photo: QĐND

In his opening remarks, General Chansamone Chanyalath emphasized that in the context of rapid changes in the world and regional situation, ASEAN continues to maintain its central role as a bridge for cooperation and dialogue. Assessing that defense cooperation between ASEAN and its partners has become increasingly substantive in recent times, General Chansamone Chanyalath expressed his hope that the 11th ADMM+ will continue to be an opportunity to promote defense cooperation more effectively, making practical contributions to maintaining peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region as well as the world.

The conference heard a report on the results of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting Plus (ADSOM+); updated the recent cooperation situation in ASEAN; and adopted the ADMM+ thematic Joint Statement on climate change.

The conference also exchanged views on regional and world security issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the situation in Myanmar, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, etc.; emphasizing the importance of peace and stability.

Regarding the regional security situation, the Defense Ministers/Defense Ministers' representatives emphasized the importance of adhering to the fundamental principles and objectives set out in the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Bali Process, as well as compliance with international law, maintaining peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.

Partner countries affirmed their support for ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation mechanisms. Delegates emphasized the importance of maritime security, including the East Sea, the world's vital shipping route, for regional and global security. Many countries agreed that disputes should be resolved by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); emphasizing the need to ensure security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. Countries, including China, expressed their desire to soon reach an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law.

In his speech with the theme “Responsible defense leaders, together for peace, security and self-reliance of the region and the world” when exchanging views on regional and world security issues, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the theme “Together for peace, security and self-reliance” proposed by the Lao Presidency not only reflects the common aspiration for a peaceful, stable and developed region, but also a commitment to shared responsibility to maintain that peace, stability and development.

That aspiration and heavy responsibility are also the reasons why ADMM+ was established in Hanoi in 2010. Over the past 14 years, ADMM+ with ASEAN as its center has proven its effectiveness in managing regional security, promoting dialogue and cooperation to respond to challenges, making important contributions to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia; becoming a pillar of defense and security cooperation in the security structure in the Asia-Pacific region.

General Phan Van Giang assessed that defense cooperation within ADMM+ has been continuously expanded and developed, achieving positive results in all seven areas, becoming a typical model of multilateral defense cooperation, attracting increasing attention from many countries and international organizations around the world.

General Phan Van Giang suggested that defense cooperation between ASEAN and its partners should be linked to ASEAN's strategic orientation, especially the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; continue to promote ASEAN's central role, leadership and strategic autonomy, respect ASEAN's fundamental principles and core values, which are cooperation for peace, stability and common development; deepen the content of cooperation activities, further enhance the practical effectiveness to make ADMM+ truly an important defense and security cooperation mechanism in the region and the world.

“With the tradition of peace and harmony, “using benevolence to replace violence”, Vietnam commits to actively and effectively contributing to the common efforts of ADMM+ to build a peaceful and developed world” - General Phan Van Giang affirmed.

The 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) took place in Laos - Photo: QĐND

General Phan Van Giang proposed promoting compliance with international law and the United Nations Charter in all countries; resolving disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of respecting and complying with international and regional laws and commitments; not threatening to use force or using force in international relations; constantly strengthening solidarity, sincerity, and trust among member countries, promoting dialogue, eliminating confrontation so that ADMM+ is always a bridge, a destination for dialogue and cooperation for all parties. Partners need to respect the central role and principles of ASEAN when conducting cooperation activities in the region.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Vietnam emphasized the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), creating a favorable environment for quality, effective, and substantive COC negotiations in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS. General Phan Van Giang asked partners to support ASEAN's stance on the East Sea and ASEAN's efforts to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

General Phan Van Giang affirmed that as a peace-loving country that always attaches importance to international cooperation, Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, and development cooperation, multilateralization and diversification of relations; is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community; and firmly adheres to the "four no's" defense policy.

Emphasizing that 2024 is the transition year between the two ADMM+ Expert Group cycles, General Phan Van Giang respectfully thanked the member countries for their active support for Vietnam and Japan, in their role as co-chairs of the ADMM+ Expert Group on Peacekeeping for the 2021-2023 cycle. Informing that the second Vietnam International Defense Exhibition will be held next December, General Phan Van Giang respectfully invited defense leaders, military leaders and defense industry enterprises of ASEAN countries and dialogue partner countries to visit and attend the Exhibition.

On the same day, the handover ceremony of the ADMM and ADMM+ Chairmanship was solemnly held in Vientiane. Accordingly, the Malaysian Ministry of Defense will be the Chairman of ADMM and ADMM+ in 2025.

On the sidelines of the 11th ADMM+, General Phan Van Giang met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, in line with the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. General Phan Van Giang affirmed that cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam is very important to the bilateral relationship.