Vietnam attends ASEAN Senior Defense Officials Meeting (ADSOM)

On September 24, in Johor (Malaysia), the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) took place under the chairmanship of the host country Malaysia. The meeting was attended by 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat and Timor Leste.

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam was led by Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, and Deputy Minister of National Defense.

In his opening remarks, Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, Head of the Malaysian delegation, appreciated the support of ASEAN member states for Malaysia as Chair in 2025. He also said that the theme of this year's Defence Ministers' Meeting is "ASEAN United for Security and Prosperity", reflecting the belief that security is the foundation of economic growth, stability and the well-being of its people. According to him, a strong and united ASEAN will be better positioned to navigate the changing geopolitical landscape and ensure that the region remains peaceful , resilient and prosperous.

View of the ASEAN Senior Defense Officials' Meeting (Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Defense)

The heads of delegations attending the conference emphasized that in an era of increasingly complex security challenges that transcend national borders, ASEAN solidarity and strong regional cooperation are more important than ever.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, expressed his belief that the Malaysian Ministry of National Defense will successfully assume the role of Chair of ADMM and ADMM+, continuing to strengthen solidarity and collective strength in ASEAN to respond flexibly and proactively to security challenges in the region, for a peaceful, secure and self-reliant region. Vietnam affirmed its highest level of support for Malaysia to fulfill its responsibility as Chair of ASEAN in 2025.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense attended the conference (Photo: (Photo: Provided by the Ministry of National Defense)

The conference heard reports on the results of the ASEAN Senior Defense Officials' Working Group (ADSOM WG), updates on the implementation of the ADMM Work Plan 2023 - 2026, results of the 21st Annual Meeting of the Network of ASEAN Defense and Security Institutes - NADI, and results of the 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting (ACDFM - 22).

The heads of ASEAN delegations also gave their opinions on new initiatives to be presented at the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM); reviewed the draft ADMM Joint Statement and the ADMM+ Thematic Joint Statement; and cooperated with the Plus countries, including: Informal ASEAN+1 meeting proposals, ASEAN+1 Maritime Exercises, and the ASEAN-Korea Defense Industry Cooperation Workshop.

Regarding the requests for informal meetings of ASEAN+1, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that Vietnam highly appreciates and supports the flexible handling plan of the Chair of Malaysia. In the context of complicated developments in the world and the region, responding to the requests of all four important partners is a proactive and necessary step, a vivid demonstration of the open, inclusive nature and central role of ASEAN. In this way, ASEAN not only gains stronger support and commitment from its partners for ASEAN's central role in the regional security architecture, but also affirms the position of ADMM+ as a practical, effective and highly adaptive multilateral defense cooperation mechanism. Vietnam believes that the Chair's plan will contribute to the overall success of this year's ADMM+ Conference.

The conference also gave opinions on preparations for the ASEAN Senior Defense Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM+), the 19th ADMM and the 12th ADMM+.

It is expected that in October, the ASEAN Summit will admit Timor Leste. Head of the Vietnamese delegation - Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his joy at this historic event for ASEAN, affirming Vietnam's consistent stance and strong support for Timor Leste's admission. This is not only the legitimate aspiration of the Timor Leste people but also the common desire for an inclusive and unified ASEAN, in line with the spirit of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community". Vietnam believes that Timor Leste's participation will bring a new vitality, contributing positively to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, as well as promoting the common prosperity of the Association.

Discussing and reaching consensus on many important fields and issues, reflecting the spirit of solidarity and unity of ASEAN countries, is of great significance in realizing the contents and goals of cooperation within the framework of ADMM and ADMM+, contributing to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region as well as in the world.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien had a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Defense, and a sideline meeting with His Excellency Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defense.

Bilateral meeting with His Excellency Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary-General of Defence of Malaysia, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien congratulated the success of the ADSOM Conference, believing that under the chairmanship of Malaysia, the ADSOM+ Conference will continue to achieve high consensus on the contents and preparations for the ADMM+ Conference, thereby strengthening solidarity and unity in ASEAN, affirming Malaysia's leading role as ASEAN Chair 2025. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense always supports and accompanies the Malaysian Ministry of National Defense. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien acknowledged the good cooperation results between the Ministry of National Defense and the two countries' armies in recent times in the following areas: Exchange of delegations at all levels; effective maintenance of dialogue mechanisms; training; cooperation between military and service branches; consultation and mutual support at multilateral forums and international events organized by each side. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense supports Malaysia's initiatives in the ADMM, especially new initiatives in 2025 as well as Malaysia and India's role as co-chairs of the ADMM+ Experts' Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 period.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien had a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary General of the Malaysian Defense Ministry (Photo: provided by the Ministry of Defense)

In the coming time, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hopes that the two sides will continue to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level; soon organize the first Vietnam - Malaysia Defense Policy Dialogue; maintain training cooperation; research potential areas of cooperation such as defense industry, logistics, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; coordinate information exchange, law enforcement, search and rescue at sea, help each other's fishing vessels and fishermen in distress at sea, as well as humane treatment of fishing vessels and fishermen; coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms.

Appreciating Vietnam's support for Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair, His Excellency Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali said that Malaysia will make every effort to fulfill its role well, maintain and promote solidarity and effective cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partner countries. He hopes to cooperate more closely and extensively with Vietnam to promote defense cooperation between the two countries, making an important contribution to helping Malaysia achieve its goals in the year of ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. His Excellency Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali agreed to promote the organization of the Vietnam-Malaysia Defense Policy Dialogue, promote cooperation in areas where both sides have needs and strengths, including defense industry cooperation.

During a meeting on the sidelines with Mr. Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. Chan Heng Kee expressed satisfaction with the results of bilateral defense cooperation in recent times, and agreed to continue promoting defense cooperation between the two sides in the coming time, focusing on a number of areas: increasing contacts and exchanges of delegations, especially high-level delegations; effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, especially the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; training; cooperation between military services; cyber security; military medicine; search and rescue; cooperation between research institutions; continuing to consult and support each other at multilateral forums, mechanisms, and ASEAN-led mechanisms. The two heads of delegation also discussed preparations for the 16th Vietnam-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue in Da Nang, Vietnam in the coming time./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-du-hoi-nghi-quan-chuc-quoc-phong-cap-cao-asean-adsom-post1063793.vnp