13th meeting of ASEAN defence and security institutions opens in Da Nang

The 13th annual meeting and 5th retreat of the Track II Network of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence and Security Institutions (NADI) opened in the central city of Da Nang on March 3.

At the meeting (Photo: VNA)
At the meeting (Photo: VNA)

The event was attended by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and hundreds of delegates from defence and security institutions and centres in ASEAN member countries.

In his speech, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh said ASEAN defence cooperation has been expanded and achieved practical results in various fields.

NADI should propose initiatives to promote collaboration in the areas which the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) is addressing, the Deputy Minister said, adding that NADI should uphold its pioneering role in analysing, assessing and forecasting risks to defence and security, put forth response solutions, and provide consultancy regarding the defence and security partnership of each country and ASEAN in general.

Deputy Minister Vinh expressed his hope that the event would help to enhance defence cooperation for a cohesive and resilient ASEAN which is adaptive to regional geopolitical changes, and a region of peace, cooperation and prosperous development.

During the two-day meeting, the delegates are discussing content related to strategic competition between powers, regional geopolitical changes, opportunities and challenges to ASEAN’s centrality, the global and regional political and security situation, as well as emerging security issues in the region, amongst other topics.

Since its inception 13 years ago, NADI has practically contributed to strengthening ASEAN defence cooperation through proposals and recommendations to its Defence Senior Officers’ Meeting (ADSOM) and the ADMM, as well as via policy consultations with ASEAN member governments.