(VOVworld) - The third ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Retreat closed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday. ASEAN defense ministers reached a strong consensus on addressing emerging security challenges in the region and the world, promoting ASEAN defense, and proposing initiatives to foster regional defense ties and trust. High on the meeting’s agenda included discussions on possibility of ASEAN becoming a transit point of terrorist forces finding ways to the Middle East via migration activities. They also debated cyber security and global terrorism threats associated with cyber crimes.


The meeting. Photo: VNA

The East Sea issue was also high on the meeting’s agenda. ASEAN defense ministers expressed concerns over recent complicated developments in the East Sea and agreed that navigation safety and freedom in the East Sea must be ensured.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event, led by Deputy Defense Minister Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, proposed initiatives to further boost defense cooperation among ASEAN countries. Vietnam reviewed 10 years of ASEAN defense cooperation and proposed a cooperation roadmap for the next decade. Major general Vu Tien Trong is Director of the Institute for Defense International Relations: "The Vietnamese delegation reiterated that cooperation, assessments, and viewpoints on the East Sea issues should abide by international law and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the ASEAN-six point principle, and to promptly complete a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea between China and ASEAN."