Cooperation for a peaceful, secure and strong ASEAN

On the morning of September 5, in the capital Vientiane (Laos), the 21st ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting (ACDFM-21) officially opened under the chairmanship of Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army.

ASEAN Defense Forces Commanders at the conference. Photo: VNA

Many challenges

According to VNA, in his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone affirmed that cooperation between the armies of ASEAN member countries plays a very important role, and is a condition for building a peaceful, prosperous and secure ASEAN region. ACDFM-21 aims to continue strengthening defense and military cooperation among ASEAN countries, in line with the slogan of this year's ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting: "Cooperation for peace, security and a strong ASEAN".

According to Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone, the region continues to face complex and unpredictable military and non-military security challenges and threats, especially political conflicts, competition between major powers, weather changes, natural disasters, etc. These issues directly and indirectly affect peace, stability, security, economy and cooperation in the region and the world. In this context, ASEAN needs to continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges and find ways to deal with challenges effectively and promptly.

Therefore, this conference is a good opportunity to exchange views on the regional and international situation, the direction of the ASEAN military cooperation plan and other related issues. Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone suggested that ASEAN member states commit to contributing to peace, prosperity and security in the region, continuing to build strategic trust in the region through dialogue and cooperation...

Respect independence and sovereignty

After discussing the regional and global security situation, especially traditional and non-traditional security challenges that directly affect the ASEAN region, the conference assessed the results of cooperation between ASEAN militaries and proposed directions to promote substantive and effective cooperation in the coming time.

Speaking at the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, emphasized that only through enhancing political trust, promoting solidarity and substantive cooperation between countries and military forces in the region can ASEAN effectively and thoroughly resolve traditional and non-traditional transnational security challenges.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong hopes that relevant parties must refrain from carrying out activities that could affect peace and stability in the region, erode trust among countries, and hinder regional cooperation efforts. At the same time, he affirmed that Vietnam consistently adheres to the principle of resolving disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of countries, and complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam supports the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of a substantive, effective, and international law-compliant Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

At the ACDFM-21 conference, the Chiefs of Defense Forces of ASEAN countries approved the 2-year Action Plan (2024-2026); approved and signed the ACDFM-21 Joint Statement.

MINH CHAU synthesis

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hop-tac-vi-mot-asean-hoa-binh-an-ninh-va-vung-manh-post757450.html