Vietnam joins ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam, led a delegation of the Ministry of National Defence to attend the 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-18), held via videoconference on March 18 under the chair of Brunei.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (R) attends the 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’sArmy, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam, led a delegation of the Ministry ofNational Defence to attend the 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting(ACDFM-18), held via videoconference on March 18 under the chair of Brunei.
Delegates exchanged opinions on the regional andinternational situation, especially traditional and non-traditional security challengesdirectly affecting ASEAN, assessed the outcomes of cooperation, and set forth orientationsto boost substantial and effective cooperation between the armies of ASEAN countries.
Nam affirmed that, in 2021, Vietnam will maintainits support for and close cooperation with Brunei and other ASEAN member statesto move on with results from 2020 and realise the goals set out for the ASEAN Year2021.
The theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”, chosenby Brunei for its ASEAN Chairmanship 2021, reflects the shared aspiration ofthe ASEAN Community to heighten collective efforts to increase local living conditions.
Amid the complex developments of the COVID-19pandemic, security challenges have remained unstable, including sea-related securityissues, he said, adding that Vietnam pledges to responsibly participate in cooperativeactivities between the armies of ASEAN countries, especially as co-chair of theASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ) Experts’ Working Group on UN PeacekeepingMissions during 2021-2024, with Japan, and as chair of the ASEAN Peacekeeping CentresNetwork’s meeting.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (Photo: VNA)
He backed and appreciated ACDFM-18’s joint statementstressing ASEAN countries’ commitment to maintaining peace, security, stability,safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, building trust, fullyand effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC), and soon completing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in conformitywith international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Vietnamese officer expressed his belief thatthis meeting will put forward new initiatives to increase the quality of cooperationbetween the armies of ASEAN states, thus contributing to peace, stability, and prosperityin the region and the world.
Concluding the meeting, Brunei handed over the ACDFMChairmanship to Cambodia which will work as Chair of ASEAN in 2022./.
Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to intensify defence cooperation in 2021, with the focus on stepping up border checks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit so as to contribute to each country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
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Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
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Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (R) attends the 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (Photo: VNA) 
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (Photo: VNA) 
