Brunei Darussalam, Monday 3rd September 2012 - The Deputy Minister of Defence Brunei Darussalam, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat officiated the Opening Ceremony the 6th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM) this morning, held at the Indera Kayangan Ballroom, Empire Hotel and Country Club. Nine distinguish Navy Chiefs’ of ASEAN present at the meeting are First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Commander Royal Brunei Navy and chairman of the 6th ANCM, Vice Admiral Tea Vinh, Commander of Royal Cambodian Navy, Admiral Soeparno, Chief of Naval Staff, Indonesian Navy, Admiral Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Abdul Aziz bin Haji Jaafar, Chief of Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy, Rear Admiral Thura Thet Swe, Commander-in-Chief, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Navy, Vice Admiral Alexander P Pama, Flag Officer in Command, Philippine Navy, Rear Admiral Ng Chee Peng, Chief of Navy, the Republic of Singapore Navy, Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Navy and Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Minister of Defence, Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Chief of Navy, Vietnam’s People Navy (VPN).
The ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ present at the Meeting (ANCM6) had fruitful discussion during the meeting on 3rd September 2012.
For the time being, establishment of a host-nation secretariat by the hosting country as well as the establishment of an ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting secretariat which will be centralised at the Information Fusion Center in Singapore is receiving a good feedback from ASEAN navies. With that, this will help in enhancing cooperation amongst ASEAN navies in organising naval interactions both at sea and ashore, which contributes towards promoting stable defence relations and military-to-military interactions in the region and also strengthen cooperation.
The proposed establishment of the ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting secretariat will help to continue to build practical cooperation between ASEAN Navies to address maritime issues such as piracy, terrorism, and search and rescue to maintain security and stability in the region.
Finally, the ASEAN Navy Chiefs welcome the initiative to develop an ANCM Roadmap to further address opportunity and challenges towards promoting maritime cooperation.
Also present at the Officiating Ceremony was Yang Mulia Dato Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces and some senior officers from the Ministry of Defence. This annual ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting is a significant maritime platform to enhance practical cooperation and engagement. The 6th ANCM theme at the Meeting is ‘Friendship at Sea for Regional Maritime Peace and Security’.