VietNamNet Bridge – A Vietnamese high-ranking delegation led by Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh has made significant contributions to the 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-7) in Brunei from May 6-8.

 

On the security situation within the framework of ADMM and ADMM plus, General Thanh stressed the need to promote peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the Southeast Asian region.

ASEAN member nations should unite and increase international cooperation, especially with the world’s two largest economies – the US and China, Thanh said.

Regarding non-traditional security-related issues, Thanh affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of settling disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He called on concerned parties to strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), ASEAN's Six-Point Principles on the East Sea, and the Joint Statement of the 15th ASEAN-China Summit on the 10th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, as well as making joint efforts in building the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea between ASEAN and China.

The Vietnamese Defence Minister proposed specific solutions to increase cooperation among the naval forces of regional countries, conduct joint patrols at sea, and promote exchange programmes between ASEAN defense forces around the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

He recommended that ASEAN member countries should sign an agreement to prevent the use of armed forces in settling sovereign disputes on the sea, particularly among those garrisoned in the Truong Sa archipelago area for the common purpose of maintaining peace and stability.

He spoke highly of ASEAN member countries’ registration for a rehearsal on relief aid and rescue work, scheduled for Brunei in June 2013.

Thanh agreed with the Lao Defence Minister’s initiative to share experience and provide assistance in landmine clearance in the post-war period.

The Vietnamese General’s initiatives and proposals at the ADMM-7 received great applause from other delegates.

Participants in the event adopted documents on establishing exchange programmes among ASEAN defence forces, building ASEAN logistics assistance framework, and setting up an ADMM+ working group on humanitarian mine action.

They also examined ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh's report on the latest developments in Southeast Asia, results of some regional meetings, and preparatory work for the humanitarian aid, disaster relief and military medicine drill (HARD&MM) in Brunei from June 16-26.

On the sidelines of the ADMM-7, Minister Thanh held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Source: VOV