(VOVworld) – The 8^th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting opened in Thailand on Wednesday. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Admiral Nguyen van Hien, Deputy Minister of National Defense. The meeting is to discuss ways to increase the role of ASEAN naval forces following the establishment of an ASEAN Community next year as well as regional navigational security and cooperative plans over the next two years.

Admiral Nguyen Van Hien delivered an important speech praising the contributions of ASEAN navies to the establishment of the ASEAN Community. He said that the Vietnamese Navy was committed to cooperation among ASEAN navies and between them and their partners: “Vietnam’s navy has been integrating well. We have developed good relations with the navies of 8 other ASEAN members and attended meetings and seminars as well as drills on search and rescue and navigation security. ASEAN member states have praised Vietnam’s role in maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia.”

He proposed that ASEAN navies support ASEAN and China in adopting a Code of Conduct to turn the East Sea into a region of cooperation and development.