SIEM REAP, KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA, Thursday 15 November 2012 – On the sideline of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) that is scheduled for 16 November 2012, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei Darussalam, representing Brunei Darussalam to the Retreat, had bilateral meetings with the ADMM Leaders of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Union of Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore and Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the Sokha Angkor Resort.
During the bilateral meetings, Yang Berhormat Pehin Yasmin expressed his pleasure on the good defence relations that existed between Brunei Darussalam and the ASEAN Member Countries. Among the significant matters, the bilateral meetings agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation through more interactions and dialogues, as well as trainings and other collaborative efforts. Towards that end, Brunei Darussalam reiterated its offer to the respective countries’ military officers to participate in a number of courses conducted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam.
During the bilateral talks, the ADMM Leaders of the respective countries expressed their full support for Brunei Darussalam’s Chairmanship of the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus Meetings in 2013, including the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise (ADMM-Plus HADR and MM Ex), which will be held in Brunei Darussalam in June 2013. They also pledged their support for the ASEAN Military Meetings to be hosted by Brunei Darussalam next year.
On a specific note, Brunei Darussalam congratulated Myanmar’s newly appointed defence minister, Lieutenant General Wai Lwin, for assuming the post recently. His Excellency Lieutenant General Wai Lwin in return enlightened the Brunei Darussalam’s delegates on the transformation going on in Myanmar. Brunei Darussalam offered openings to the personnel of the Myanmar Armed Forces to attend various courses run by the Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Brunei Darussalam congratulated Malaysia for its role in the signing of the framework agreement of peace deal between the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Brunei Darussalam also expressed strong support for Malaysia’s initiatives on defence industry in the ADMM. Brunei Darussalam expressed strong support for the continuing peace process agreement in the southern Philippines.
Both Brunei Darussalam and Singapore expressed hopes to refresh the existing military exercises between their armed forces, and looked forward for the convening of the 3rd Policy Dialogue next year (2014) in Brunei Darussalam. Vietnam offered Brunei Darussalam to share their experienced in hosting the ADMM-Plus.
Also attending the bilateral meetings were Colonel (Rtd) Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham bin Pg Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Joint Force Commander, Awang Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technology), and Colonel (L) Awang Abd Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Director of Intelligence.