Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (R) takes over the Chair of ADMM and ADMM Plus from Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan in Bangkok on November 18, 2019. (Photo: VNA)

At a ceremony held in Bangkok on Monday, Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich received the token of the Chair of ADMM and ADMM Plus from Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. Mr. Lich announced “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and said he hopes ASEAN members will work together to strengthen defense and military cooperation mechanisms, building a cohesive community capable of adapting to external events.

At an ASEAN ministers’ meeting with partners the same day, delegates agreed on the need to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, respect international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and build an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

"ASEAN and countries joining the ADMM Plus said recent developments in the East Sea are the result of an inconsistency between words and actions that violates international commitments like the DOC and disrespects the legal rights of many countries," said Major General Vu Tien Trong, Head of the Institute for International Relations on Defense and head of the ADMM and ADMM Plus working team.