According to a VNA correspondent in Malaysia, on February 26, on Penang Island, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat took place under the chairmanship of Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin.
The conference was attended by Defense Ministers, leaders of Defense Ministries of ASEAN countries and ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General in charge of the Political-Security Community Dato' Astanah Abdul Aziz.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defense, led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to attend the conference.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin thanked Laos for successfully hosting all meetings related to the ADMM and the ADMM Plus (ADMM+) during Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.
Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin chairs the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Retreat. (Photo: Hang Linh/VNA)
Minister Khaled bin Nordin named this year's Defense Ministers' Meeting theme as "ASEAN United for Security and Prosperity," reflecting the belief that security is the foundation of economic growth, stability and people's well-being.
A strong and united ASEAN will be better positioned to navigate the changing geopolitical landscape and ensure that the region remains peaceful, resilient and prosperous, he said.
He stressed that in an era of increasingly complex security challenges that transcend national borders, ASEAN solidarity and strong regional cooperation are more important than ever.
The region is facing traditional and non-traditional security threats that no single country can address on its own. Therefore, strengthening collective capacity to respond effectively and proactively to these challenges is inevitable.
Referring to the priorities of the ADMM this year, the Malaysian Defense Minister said that the country will promote six key defense priorities, reflecting current and emerging security challenges, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity in Defense; Maritime Security; Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), including Search and Rescue (SAR); Defense Industry Cooperation; Security Threats from Non-State Actors and Bio-Risk.
Speaking at the conference, General Nguyen Tan Cuong highly appreciated the theme that Malaysia chose: “ASEAN unites for security and prosperity.”
The General said that in the context of non-traditional security issues continuing to develop in a complicated manner, affecting each country as well as peace, stability and development in the region and the world, ASEAN still maintains solidarity, promotes cooperation and achieves many important results in maintaining peace, stability and security in the region.
ADMM and ADMM+, along with ASEAN-led defense cooperation mechanisms, continue to affirm their role as forums for consultation on defense policy, as mechanisms to promote substantive defense cooperation, and enhance the ability to respond to regional security challenges.
Representatives of the Defense Ministries of 10 ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat pose for a group photo at the conference. (Photo: Hang Linh/VNA)
General Nguyen Tan Cuong shared and proposed a number of orientations for ADMM and ADMM+ in continuing to maintain and strengthen solidarity and unity in diversity, and persevering with ASEAN's standards of conduct and principled stance on international and regional issues.
Accordingly, it is necessary to resolve all difficulties and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of countries; not threatening to use force or using force in international relations; complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), seriously implementing international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); supporting the establishment of clearer, more substantive and effective legal commitments such as the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Continuously strengthen solidarity, sincerity, trust, and uphold the principle of consensus on the basis of respecting differences among ADMM and ADMM+ member countries, so that ADMM and ADMM+ are always the bridge and destination of dialogue and cooperation for all parties.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong also emphasized the need to enhance ASEAN's self-reliance in defense, combining internal and external resources, in which internal resources are fundamental, strategic, long-term, and decisive, while external resources are important and necessary.
Countries need to effectively coordinate and harmonize cooperation initiatives and activities within ADMM and ADMM+, as well as with other cooperation mechanisms, especially in handling cross-sectoral and cross-sectoral issues and promptly responding to all emerging security challenges.
Ensure cohesive and mutually complementary activities and effective use of resources to enhance self-reliance and self-reliance, contributing to promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world.
Referring to the 6 proposals raised by the Malaysian Ministry of Defense in 2025, General Nguyen Tan Cuong highly appreciated Malaysia's proposal on AI cooperation in the defense channel, demonstrating the proactiveness and timely response of ADMM in the context of AI governance issues attracting the attention of the world as well as the region.
On the sidelines of the Defense Ministers' Retreat, General Nguyen Tan Cuong and the Vietnamese Defense Ministry delegation had four bilateral meetings with the Defense Ministries of Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.
At the meeting with the Malaysian Defense Minister, General Nguyen Tan Cuong expressed his delight at the positive development of the relationship between the two countries in recent times, especially the milestone of upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Malaysia in November 2024.
Assessing the results achieved in the defense relations between the two countries, the General affirmed that many positive results have been recorded in areas such as exchanging delegations at all levels, especially high-level; effectively maintaining dialogue mechanisms; cooperating in human resource training; search and rescue at sea; regularly sending ships to visit each other; actively coordinating consultations and supporting each other at multilateral forums; affirming support for Malaysia in its role as co-chair of the ADMM+ Experts' Group on Counter-Terrorism with India for the 2024-2027 period.
The two sides expressed their hope that in the coming time, they will promote and implement a number of new cooperation plans, further tightening the relationship between Malaysia and Vietnam.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Retreat took place on February 25 and 26, gathering more than 150 delegates.
Malaysia - which held the ASEAN Chair in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015 - officially assumed the role in January 2025 with the theme “Inclusive and Sustainable.”
More than 300 meetings and programs are planned for the whole year./.
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