BAGAN, MYANMAR, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 - The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) was held at the Aureum Palace Hotels and Resorts Bagan. The Retreat was chaired by His Excellency Lieutenant General Wai Lwin, Minister of Defence, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The Ministers exchanged views on Defence Cooperation Towards Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN Community. They expressed satisfaction with the number of defence programmes and activities being initiated and implemented under the ADMM process. These programmes and activities would serve to encourage and promote understanding between defence and military officials, improved interoperability and put in place mechanisms for a more coordinated response in the future.
The Ministers have also expressed their satisfaction that the ADMM has taken significant step forward to substantiate its cooperation with the dialogue partners. They pledged to have deeper and more constructive relations with their counterparts from the Plus countries next year in Malaysia during the 3rd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. In doing so, they stressed the need to demonstrate ASEAN’s unity and centrality to ensure peace, stability and greater prosperity in the region.
In exchanging views on the regional and international defence and security issues, the Ministers emphasized the need to work closely together as neighbours, friends and partners to face the non-traditional security challenges, and maintain peace and stability in the region. On this note, they stated that the region is still faced with several challenging developments such as the rise of violence and brutality committed by terrorist and extremist organizations in the Middle East, and the recurrent outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, which constitute a threat to international peace and security.
The Retreat congratulated Myanmar for successfully hosting the ADMM meetings this year, and extended best wishes and full support to Malaysia as the incoming Chair for both the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus next year.
Representing His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, and accompanied by His Excellency Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Abdu’r Rahmani Dato Paduka Haji Basir, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Myanmar, as well as Haji Azhar Haji Ahmad, Acting Permanent Secretary (Finance and Administration), Ministry of Defence and Abu Sufian Haji Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), Ministry of Defence.
At the sideline of the Retreat, the ASEAN Defence Ministers also met His Excellency Akinori Eto, Minister of Defense of Japan, for the ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting, where they discussed the overall regional and international defence and security issues, especially in the areas of mutual interest and cooperation.
NOTE: The “ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting” Link in the above was added by PacificSentinel for clarity & context.