A high-ranking delegation led by Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh is joining other ASEAN member nations for the 9^th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-9), which officially opened in Malaysia on March 16.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh

At the meeting, participants focused their discussion on traditional and non-traditional regional security issues as well as the threat posed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

Other concerns on the meeting’s agenda include navigation security, high-tech development security, pirate prevention in the East Sea and cooperation and coordination mechanisms in fighting natural disasters.

Malaysia’s initiative to establish an ASEAN peace-keeping force was also brought forth and received support from a number of member nations.

The Vietnamese delegation proposed the development of a mechanism for improving and outlining orientations for the ADMM’s future activities.

ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Viet Nam.