Bangkok (VNA) – The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMMRetreat) opened in Bangkok on November 17.

In his remarks, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan thanked the defenceministers and the ASEAN Secretariat office for supporting the country to completeits role as the ASEAN Chair in 2019, and particularly successfully organise theASEAN defence ministers’ meetings.

He spoke highly of the ASEAN member states’ positive roles in promotingsecurity-defence cooperation within the bloc, contributing to the maintenanceof ASEAN’s central role to effectively cope with regional challenges.

The official expressed his hope that the meeting will serve as a venue forcompetent sides to exchange experience and opinions on defence and securityissues, helping further boost collaboration in the field in the time ahead.

As scheduled, defence ministers of the 10 ASEAN member states and eightdialogue partners, namely the US, Russia, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan,India, New Zealand, and Australia, will gather at the ADMM Retreat and the 6th ADMM-Plus on the concept of “Sustainable Security” on November 17-18. They willdiscuss measures to enhance trust and strengthen security cooperation betweenASEAN members and dialogue partners in all respects.

Discussions will be held on cooperation in seven areas of humanitarianassistance and disaster relief, maritime security, military medicine,counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian activities and cybersecurity.

According to the observers, security in the East Sea will become a focus of thedefence leaders.

Vietnam will take over the role of the ADMM and ADMM Plus Chair from Thailandright after the 6th ADMM Plus concludes on November 18.

Vietnam’s participation at theevents, at the invitation of Thai PM andDefence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, showed the country’s active, proactive and responsible engagement incooperation areas within the ADMM and ADMM Plus and efforts to implement thecountry’s initiatives in the ASEAN defence cooperation framework.

Through the events, Vietnam also affirms itsrole and position in the region and the world by involving in multilateralforums as well as promoting common efforts in maintaining peace, stability anddevelopment in the region./.