Delegates at the 10th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting
(ACDFIM-10) signed a joint statement in Brunei on March 20 highlighting
the role of ASEAN member nations’ armed forces in coping with regional
security challenges.
The statement reviewed the
outcomes of cooperation at the ACDFIM over the past years, outlined
measures to enhance future cooperation among regional armed forces, and
highly valued Brunei and Singaporean armed forces’ initiatives on
holding humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises in June
2013.
It also highlighted future activities between
the bloc and other countries within the framework of the ASEAN Defence
Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and established a report mechanism within the
framework of the ACDFIM.
Participants discussed the
outcomes of the 10th ASEAN Military Intelligence Informal Meeting and
the 3rd ASEAN Military Operations Informal Meeting. They expressed
wishes to bolster regional armed forces’ strong and friendly cooperation
in different areas towards building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
The meeting also adopted the 2013–2015 working plan.
On the occasion, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and
Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces transferred the
chairmanship of the mechanism to the ACDFIM-11 in Myanmar.
This year, the Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting was led by
Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff Sen. Lieut. Gen.
Do Ba Ty.-VNA