Defense boosts peace

The solidarity and determination of ASEAN countries to boost defense co-operation had led to peace and stability in the region and the world.

Thanh said the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), which will be attended by 18 defence ministers, would be an "historic" event.

Participants at the first ADMM Retreat meeting put final touches to preparations for the first ADMM+ meeting, which begins today.

ASEAN's eight dialogue partners are Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

Thanh said co-operation among ASEAN members and the eight non-member countries would help ensure the security interests of each country and the region as a whole.

Today, defence ministers will discuss the establishment of a framework for regional co-operation on counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, rescue, maritime security, military medicine and peacekeeping operations.

Yesterday, ministers adopted the Attachment Paper of ADMM +: Modalities and Procedures; reviewed the discussion paper on Potential, Prospects and Direction of Practical Co-operation within the framework of ADMM +; and the draft Joint Declaration of the first ADMM +.

Indonesia will host of the second ADMM+ meeting when it takes over the chairmanship of ADMM from Vietnam next year.

Thanh held talks with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates during his official visit to Vietnam to attend the ADMM+.

The two leaders discussed measures to speed up co-operation in the area of national defence that included the exchange of delegations at different levels, English training, the provision of information about Vietnamese soldiers missing in action during the war and the search for American servicemen still listed as missing, the clearance of unexploded bombs and mines, solving the effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin and humanitarian support.

Thanh told his guest that the delegation's visit had contributed to furthering friendly relations, co-operation and mutual trust between the armies and peoples of the two countries, and the success of the ADMM+.

They co-chaired a press conference on the outcome of the meeting later yesterday.

The same day, Thanh received Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.

The two sides agreed to strengthen the exchange of military delegations, human resource training, sharing experience in search and rescue and other issues of common concern.

By so doing, they said it would contribute to consolidating friendly relations, and co-operation between the two armies and peoples of Vietnam and Japan.

During the talks, Thanh said he believed the delegation's visit would contribute to strengthening mutual understanding.

Kitazawa said he hoped the ADMM+ meeting would be successful.

Gates also spoke with teachers, students and staff from the Ha Noi National University yesterday.

Gates said he was happy to visit Vietnam during the celebrations of the capital's millennium, adding it was an opportunity for both countries to consider how to deepen bilateral ties, while making concrete efforts towards regional peace and stability.

The US Defence Secretary praised the active co-operation of Vietnamese Government, the Ministry of Defence and provinces in the search for the remains of US MIAs for repatriation.

He said bilateral co-operation to assist Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and the clearance of unexploded ordnances left over from the war had achieved encouraging results. Gates expressed his wish to step up talks and expand co-operation in defence affairs with Vietnam such as officer training, medical military co-operation, search and rescue missions after natural disasters, and maritime security.

The development of Vietnam-US co-operative relations was not only of mutual interest but would also benefit Southeast Asia and Asia at large, he said.

Gates used the occasion to highlight Vietnam's initiative to organise the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting.

The ADMM+ was a chance for every party to understand issues of mutual concern and to increase co-operation to overcome security and defence challenges, he said.

This is Gates' first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as US Defence Secretary and the third time by a US Defence Secretary since the normalisation of relations between the two countries in 1995.