Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, has proposed critical measures to promote the role of the ASEAN armed forces in the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region.

Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty at the event

Sharing information and building a joint forces database are crucial for coping with non-traditional security issues such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security and anti-terrorism, he said at the 12^th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-12) in Kuala Lumpur on February 10.

Simultaneously, it is necessary to promote the efficiency and harmony of existing regional cooperation mechanisms to ensure resource optimisation, said Sen. Lieut. Gen. Ty.

He also highlighted the importance of enhancing coordination activities among the armed forces, especially joint drills, while seeking measures to connect resources and strengthen partnerships among ASEAN armies in dealing with non-traditional challenges.

During the ACDFIM-12, participants also discussed defence cooperation programmes and emerging security challenges in the region, including cyber security and maritime security in the Bien Dong (East Sea).

During the event, the chairmanship of the Military Intelligence Informal Meeting, the ASEAN Military Operational Informal Meeting, and the ACDFIM-13 in 2016 were appointed to Laos.

Concluding the meeting, the ASEAN defence chiefs signed a joint statement.