INDONESIA, Thursday 21 March 2012 – The 3rd Jakarta International Defence Dialogue (JIDD) concluded today after focusing on current and evolving security trends in the region as well as a range of complementary defence and diplomatic activities that addresses them, contributing to a stable international and regional environment.
The two-day conference was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and featured prominent speakers including H.E. Mr Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr. Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defence of Singapore, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Ashton Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States, and Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People’s Republic of China.
Brunei Darussalam’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, delivered a keynote address on ‘Defence and Diplomacy’ at the official dinner.
In his address, the Deputy Minister shared that the potential for ASEAN defence cooperation remained vast. ASEAN already had a combined strength of nearly two million active military personnel, while defence spending was projected to increase to US$40 billion by 2016. ASEAN Member States also continued to be involved in a number of international operations, including those under the UN umbrella, such as peacekeeping and peacebuilding. While highlighting ASEAN’s strengths in defence diplomacy, the deputy minister argued that stronger defence cooperation could assure ASEAN’s security and progress, contributing to ASEAN’s desire to become ASEAN community by 2015, and fulfilling obligations contained in the principles and purposes of the ASEAN Charter.
The Deputy Minister also called on the Minister of Defence of Indonesia, H.E Purnomo Yusgiantoro. He also met separately with H.E. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Vice Minister of Defense, Republic of Indonesia; H.E. Asthon Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States, H.E. Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of General Staff, People’s Republic of China; H.E. Lee Young Geol, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Korea; and First Admiral Bruce Donaldson, Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Canada.
Also attending the conference was the Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah. The Deputy Commander also held a separate bilateral meeting with Lieutenant General TNI Daryatmo, S, IP, Chief of General Staff of Indonesia,
The Jakarta International Defence Dialogue is an annual event which brings together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence Forces and other senior defence and military officials to discuss regional defence and security issues.