The 14th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-14) was virtually held on December 9, under the chair of Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich.

Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich chairs the 14th ASEAN Defense
Ministers' Meeting, December 9, 2020. - Photo: VNA 

Speaking at the event, Lich expressed his gratitude for the support of ASEAN Defense Ministries and the ASEAN Secretariat for Viet Nam during the 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.

Lich said the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed lives of thousands of people around the world and generated heavy impacts on every country and even it may transform global geopolitics.

In addition, many ASEAN member countries have been battered by consecutive natural disasters that left severe and long-lasting consequences while the region is facing challenges posed by terrorism, transnational crime, maritime security, cyber security, and water resource

Against that backdrop, ASEAN has shown the spirit of “cohesiveness and managed to foster cooperation among the member countries, as evidenced by the adoption of initiatives as the Covid-19 ASEAN Response Fund, ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework at the 37th ASEAN Summit. 

In each member country, defense forces have played a core role in fighting Covid-19 pandemic and ASEAN defense cooperation has been maintained through creative utilization of the digital platforms for communications and virtual meetings, Lich highlighted. 

The bloc's armies have worked together to enhance cooperation in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic through information and experience sharing, provision of medical supplies, border control and development of test kits and vaccine, he added. 

Lich also referred to the successful organization of the ASEAN Military Medicine’s virtual situational exercise for COVID-19 prevention.

At the meeting, participants discussed and adopted initiatives to enhance ASEAN defense cooperation, the ADMM Three-Year Work Program 2020-2022, the Joint Declaration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers on Defense Cooperation for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN, and Preparation for the 7th ADMM-Plus.