Vietnam lauds ASEAN’s role in fostering regional peace
ASEAN has been serving as one of the pivotal forces in promoting regional peace and stability by strengthening cooperation with its partners through the frameworks of ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
Lieutenant General Nguyen Dinh Chien, head of the Institute for Defence Strategy of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, made the remark at a two-day seminar which was wrapped up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 12.
In his report entitled “The central role of ASEAN in relations with major powers”, Chien said that the expansion of cooperation with big regional countries will help ASEAN maintain a peaceful and stable environment, while consolidating cooperation and trust among its members in the fields of politics and security.
This contributes to promoting the trend of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and creating new practical relations between ASEAN and major powers in the spirit of friendship, long-lasting stability and comprehensive cooperation in a closer manner, both bilaterally and multilaterally, he added.
The Track II Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI) seminar drew the participation of nearly 50 delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries.
Themed “National security and Development: Foundation for ASEAN Community”, the event, held by the Malaysian Institute for Defence and Security, created an opportunity for ASEAN scholars to share experience and put forth new initiatives to effectively address newly emerging security challenges in the region.
High on the agenda were was security and development in ASEAN, defence and security cooperation as well as current and future threat to ensuring security and stability in the region.