Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), Deputy Minister of National Defense, led a high-ranking military delegation of the VPA to attend the conference.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong led a high-ranking military delegation of the Vietnam People's Army to attend the conference.

Participation in ACDFM-20 aims to continue affirming Vietnam's positivity and proactiveness as a responsible member of ASEAN in general and ASEAN military-defense cooperation in particular, contributing significantly to promoting substantive and effective military-defense cooperation among ASEAN countries.

In his opening speech, Admiral Yudo Margono welcomed the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces to ACDFM-20; affirmed that cooperation between the militaries of ASEAN member states plays a very important role, thereby building a peaceful, prosperous and secure ASEAN region; and requested ASEAN member states to commit to contributing to peace, prosperity and security in the region, continuing to build strategic trust in the region through dialogue and cooperation. Admiral Yudo Margono also expressed his belief that ACDFM-20 will create positive things, contributing to strengthening cooperation between the militaries of ASEAN countries.

After approving the agenda, the ACDFM-20 conference heard reports on the results of the 20th ASEAN Military Intelligence Chiefs Meeting (AMIM-20) and the 13th ASEAN Military Operations Chiefs Meeting (AMOM-13) held on June 5, 2023.

One of the contents that received attention and high appreciation from delegates was that at AMIM-20, the countries agreed to approve the Concept Document on the establishment of the ASEAN Defense Intelligence Community (AMIC) and the AMIC Leadership Workshop will be held in Vietnam as soon as possible.

Heads of delegations attending ACDFM-20 take a group photo.

At ACDFM-20, the ASEAN Defense Forces Commanders expressed their support for the theme of ASEAN 2023 chosen by Indonesia as “Peace, Prosperity and Security” - a theme that reflects the common desire of ASEAN member countries to promote solidarity, unity, and move towards the future together, with people at the center; emphasizing that the ASEAN militaries are an inseparable entity in responding to common challenges in the region, especially in the context of the current rapidly evolving and complicated security situation.

After discussing the regional and global security situation, especially traditional and non-traditional security challenges that directly affect the ASEAN region, the conference assessed the results of cooperation between ASEAN militaries and proposed directions to promote substantive and effective cooperation in the coming time.

Speaking at the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, affirmed that the Vietnam People's Army has been and will continue to responsibly participate in cooperation activities between the militaries of ASEAN countries.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasized: The East Sea still has disputes over territorial sovereignty as well as other disputes and disagreements between countries in the region. Resolving these disputes and disagreements is a difficult, challenging and long-term issue. Consistently, Vietnam adheres to the principle of resolving disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of countries, and complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Members of the Vietnamese delegation at ACDFM-20.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation said that the relevant countries need to continue to emphasize their commitment to maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; at the same time, strengthen trust building, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon conclude negotiations and sign a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law. This will continue to affirm the commitments and responsibilities of the defense forces of the countries for peace, prosperity and common security in the region.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong and delegates on the sidelines of the conference.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong said that Vietnam is expected to host a number of important military-defense cooperation activities in 2023, such as the 8th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Peacekeeping Center Network; the ASEAN Military Volleyball Tournament and co-chair with Japan the organization of the final activities of the ADMM+ Expert Group on Peacekeeping for the 2021-2023 period. Vietnam hopes to receive the support and active participation of ASEAN member countries. In 2024, Vietnam will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, and plans to organize an international defense exhibition in Vietnam on this occasion and hopes to receive support from the Ministry of National Defense and the armies of ASEAN countries.

At the conference, the ASEAN Defense Forces Commanders approved the ASEAN Military Forces' two-year Action Plan (2023-2025); approved and signed the ACDFM-20 Joint Statement.

Heads of delegations signed the Joint Statement of ACDFM-20 Conference.

At the end of the Conference, a handover ceremony took place for the ACDFM-21 Chairmanship to Laos, the ASEAN Chair in 2024.

Handover ceremony of ACDFM-21 Chairmanship to Laos.

Head of the delegation of Laos, ASEAN Chair in 2024, speaks after taking office as Chair of ACDFM-21.

* On the same morning, the Commanders of the ASEAN Defense Forces approved the Concept Document for the establishment of the ASEAN Defense Intelligence Community (AMIC).

News and photos: TIEN DAT (from Bali, Indonesia)