Gen. Banh, who is also a Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, delivered the opening speech of the meeting, in which he said that the ASEAN needs to maintain the strength and resilience in the context of several challenges, especially great power competition, transnational crime, terrorism, security, climate change and epidemics.

He also noted that this meeting, known as the ADMM and its expanding edition (ADMM-Plus), is playing an important role in advising and strengthening defense cooperation at the highest level in the region.

The discussion of documents referring to the enhanced military cooperation among ASEAN member states to prevent cross-border pandemics, promote support mechanisms for peacekeeping forces and strengthen cooperation among the organization’s military educational institutions are included in the agenda of the forum.

In the context of this 16th Meeting, Vietnam’s Defense Minister, General Phan Van Giang, held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Laos, Japan and Cambodia.

pgh/iff/oda/mpm