ASEAN 2020: Defence ministers of Việt Nam, Laos, Australia meet in Hà Nội
HÀ NỘI — Minister of National Defence General Ngô Xuân Lịch met with his Lao counterpart General Chansamone Chanyalath in Hà Nội yesterday within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat).
Welcoming the Lao People’s Army delegation to the ADMM Retreat, the host said it was an important meeting that would set directions for ASEAN defence and military co-operation for 二0 二0 and the following years, as well as contribute to the success of the ADMM Plus.
Việt Nam hoped Laos and other ASEAN members would join hands to consolidate defence – military co-operation mechanisms and build an ASEAN Co妹妹unity that is cohesive and responsive to external factors in line with the 二0 二0 theme of “Defence co-operation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN”, chosen by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, Lịch noted.
For his part, Minister Chanyalath highly valued the Vietnamese ministry’s preparations for the ADMM Retreat and military – defence activities during the year the country holds the ASEAN Chairmanship.
Despite the COVID- 一 九 outbreak, Việt Nam had played an active role in disease prevention to help participating delegations feel secure, he added.
The Lao official expressed his belief that under the chair of Việt Nam in 二0 二0, the ADMM and ADMM Plus would uphold their important role in regional security.
At the meeting, the two sides shared the view that defence co-operation was one of the key pillars in Việt Nam-Laos relations.
Receiving Australian counterpart
On the same day, Lịch hosted a reception for Senator Linda Reynolds, the Australian Defence Minister, within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat.
