Hanoi (VNA) – The 14th ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting (ADMM-14) took place via videoconference on December 9 underthe chair of the Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich.

The event was attended by defence leaders of themember states and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Hoang Anh Tuan. Those inHanoi included Vietnamese defence officials along with ASEAN ambassadors anddefence attachés.

Minister Lich thanked other countries’ defenceministries and the ASEAN Secretariat for supporting Vietnam since it took overthe 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.

He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic hasclaimed over 1.5 million lives around the world, seriously impacted the economyof each country, the region, and the world as a whole, and even posed the riskof reshaping global geopolitics. Many countries in the region have alsosuffered from back-to-back natural disasters, causing heavy losses of lives andproperty and leaving long-term socio-economic consequences.

Regional peace and stability have become evenmore fragile in the face of risks relevant to terrorism, transnational crimes,maritime security, cyber security, and water resources security, he went on.

Amidst such difficulties, ASEAN has showed a“cohesive and responsive” spirit as in line with the bloc’s theme for 2020,Lich said, noting that though many activities were postponed or held viateleconference, the member countries have witnessed strong development in theircooperation, especially in COVID-19 prevention and control, as seen through anumber of initiatives like the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, the RegionalReserve of Medical Supplies, or the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Frameworkapproved at the 37th ASEAN Summit.

The minister said although defence ministriesand militaries are among core forces in governments’ common efforts to combatCOVID-19, ASEAN countries have still maintained defence ties by creativelyusing digital platforms to serve communications and online meetings.

On the basis of ASEAN defence ministers’statement on defence cooperation against disease outbreaks issued in February,they have enhanced anti-COVID-19 partnership via sharing information andexperience, providing medical supplies, working together to controlcross-border movement and develop test kits and vaccines, and successfullyorganising an online joint drill on COVID-19 prevention and control among theirmilitary medical forces in May, he added.

During the ADMM-14, participants considereddefence cooperation initiatives, the ADMM work plan for 2020-2022, andespecially, the ASEAN defence ministers’ joint statement on defence cooperationfor a cohesive and responsive ASEAN.

They also looked into preparations for the ADMMPlus, to be held online on December 10, and some related issues./.