PM highlights significant role, contributions of ADMM-Plus

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sends his message to the ceremony held in virtual format on December 10 to mark the 10th founding anniversary of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus.

• ASEAN-Plus Defense Ministers issue Joint Declaration

This is part of his message to a ceremony held on December 10 to mark the 10th founding anniversary of the ADMM-Plus.

PM Phuc said the ADMM-Plus has proved to be an effective mechanism for policy consultation and practical defense cooperation of the participating countries.

The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”), to strengthen security and defense cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.

The inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi on 12 October 2010. Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus meets annually to allow enhanced dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and the plus countries in the midst of an increasingly challenging regional security environment.

Addressing the ceremony held digitally with the participation of defense ministers of ADMM-Plus countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General, Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich said the establishment of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in 2006 marked the start of an official defense cooperation mechanism among the ASEAN member States.

The ADMM has created a framework for ministerial-level dialogue and consultation on strategic, defense and security matters, serving as a platform for practical cooperation among the ASEAN member countries’ armies.

Meanwhile, the ADMM is a mechanism for ASEAN member States and plus countries to share viewpoints on security issues in the region, contributing to enhancing transparency and understanding of the defense policies, and confidence-building among the participating countries.

Though the role of the ADMM-Plus in the regional security architecture has been widely recognized, Lich called for more efforts to further strengthen the mechanism’s role through close coordination with other ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

As an proactive, active and responsible member of ASEAN and ADMM-Plus, Viet Nam will continue doing its utmost to work with other ASEAN member States and partners, especially the plus countries in ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, Lich affirmed./.

By Kim Anh

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