Hanoi (VNA) - The 23rd ASEAN Chiefs ofArmy Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM-23) opened in Hanoi on November 10 under thechair of Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, deputy chief of the General Staff of theVietnam People’s Army (VPA).

The participants sought ways to enhance cooperationbetween regional armies in order to cope with common security challenges,especially non-traditional ones, for peace, stability and development in theregion and the world at large.

In his remarks, Chief of the General Staff of the VPA Sen.Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong noted that ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEANDefence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADPMM Plus have carried forward theirrole in promoting consultations and intra-bloc cooperation, and enhancing collaborationbetween the grouping and its partner countries to respond to common challenges.

ASEAN has maintained its centrality in themechanisms, drawn more attention from partner countries, and served as acrucial factor in ensuring peace, stability and development in the region, hecontinued.

Cuong described the ACAMM-23 as an importantcooperation mechanism which contributes to intensifying mutual understandingand trust, and fostering substantive and meaningful cooperation to handlecommon issues in the region, particularly non-traditional security challenges.

Over the past three years, the militaries of theASEAN member countries, especially their armies, have played a key role innational efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, the officer highlighted.

Standing side by side in the settlement of thecommon challenges will help the armies tighten their bonds and trust, andcreate a premise for collaboration in other spheres, for a region of peace,stability and development, he emphasised.

At the event, Nghia reviewed cooperationactivities between the armies, including meetings, workshops, experience exchangeand exercises in such areas as military medicine, humanitarian and relief aid,anti-terrorism and UN peace-keeping operations, which, he said, have broughtthe forces closer.

The Vietnamese army has actively participated injoint efforts in dealing with the common challenges, he said, pledging that theVPA will work to strengthen cooperation with its regional counterparts, forpeace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

The participants exchanged views on the regionalsecurity situation, saying the current non-traditional security challenges aretransnational and requiring suitable response methods as well as strongercooperation between forces and countries.

They agreed on the need to bolster the intra-blocsolidarity to create consensus and collective strength in order to flexibly andproactively handle challenges, and to share information, especially in anti-terrorismand cyber security.

At the end of the meeting, Vietnam handed over the ACAMMChairmanship to Thailand./.