Bangkok (VNA) - ASEANdefence ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan and the US heldinformal meetings on November 17, in the framework of the ASEAN DefenceMinisters’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono affirmed that Japan supports thecentral role played by ASEAN in regional cooperation mechanisms, and wants totap opportunities to further cooperate effectively with the bloc based on theneeds of each side.

Japan pledges to help ASEAN improve its capacity, especially in technology, hesaid, adding that his country will continue to expand cooperation between thetwo sides on the basis of the upgraded “Vientiane Vision”.

ASEAN defence ministers highlighted the increasing relations in many fields betweenthe group and Japan in recent time, while praising efforts and support from theJapanese side for maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the region.

They hoped that through cooperation, Japan will continuously contribute toenhancing peace, stability and security in the region.

Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe affirmed that his country treasures cooperationwith ASEAN, saying that defence ties between the two sides are growing.

The ASEAN defence ministers took note of remarkable outcomes of theASEAN-China cooperation, practically contributing to building trust between thetwo sides, citing as examples the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise 2018 and the firstChina-ASEAN Middle-Aged and Young MilitaryOfficers Friendly Exchange in 2019.

They also welcomed the positive results of the negotiations on a Code of Conductin the East Sea (COC).

In the informal meeting with the US Secretary of Defence Mark T. Esper, ASEAN’sdefence officers applauded the US’s active participation in ASEAN-ledcooperation mechanisms, especially ADMM . They hailed the US’s efforts in promotingdefence cooperation with ASEAN over the past time, and highly appreciated thesuccessful organisation of the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise in 2019.

For his part, Esper reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a free and open IndoPacific, on the basis of respect for international law, and independence andsovereignty of all countries.

Vietnam’s Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich attended all theinformal meetings.

Also on November 17, Minister Lich had bilateralmeetings with the defence ministers of Australia, Brunei, New Zealand and theRepublic of Korea, during which they affirmed their support for Vietnam'sMinistry of National Defence to successfully organize defence - militaryactivities in 2020 – the year Vietnam will undertake the ASEAN Chair position./.