PM Dung, who is also ASEAN chairman, made the statement at the first ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting plus (ADMM+) opening in Hanoi on October 12 with the participation of Defense Ministers from 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partners including the US, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the presence of ASEAN secretary Surin Pitsuwan, Vietnamese Minister of Defense, General Phung Quang Thanh, said the ADMM+ was a very significant event as this was the first time 18 defense ministers from countries with different political systems and levels of development had a forum to share information and discuss practical measures to boost defense cooperation for world peace and stability.

The meeting takes place when new security threats and non-traditional security are becoming common concerns. They require a new attitude towards world security and a modern structure in which multilateral security mechanisms play a very important role, he said.

Minister Thanh said ADMM+ is a strategic mechanism for defense cooperation and a forum for raising awareness of regional security and identifying fields for cooperation.

PM Dung said as part of the ASEAN Political-Security Community and a dialogue to promote cooperation between ASEAN militaries, the ADMM will promote dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, reflecting ASEAN policy to create the best conditions for its partners to contribute to solving common issues for peace and stability in the region, said Mr. Dung.

He said although peace, stability and cooperation are being maintained in the Southeast Asian region, there are still factors that affect them as the situation around the world is becoming more complicated. ASEAN and its dialogue partners, therefore, need to improve the effectiveness of their cooperation. This year’s meeting will be a good chance to discuss practical measures to strengthen defense cooperation, and lay the foundation for building an ASEAN Political-Security Community.

The PM expressed his hopes that during ADMM+, under the theme “Strategic Cooperation for Peace, Stability and Regional Development,” participants will be able to work out the most effective cooperative measures to cope with newly-emerging challenges in the region.