Australia applauds ADMM+ in Hanoi

Measures put forwards at the national defence ministers and officials’ meetings will help to consolidate confidence between the countries, said Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith, in a short meeting with the media in Hanoi on October 12 on the fringes of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Regarding the importance of the ADMM+, Mr Stephen said that ASEAN is important to Australia and the country was ASEAN’s first partner when they both established relations 30 years ago.

The ADMM+ is also of great significance to ASEAN and the bloc’s eight dialogue partners, including Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. The ten ASEAN nations along with their partner nations will hold meetings at head of state and foreign minister and defence minister levels in the future. This will contribute substantially to ensuring security and peace in the region, said the Australian defence chief.

Mr Stephen also congratulated Vietnam on its ADMM+ Chair and thanked Vietnam for having invited Australia to the meeting.

Earlier on October 11, Australia and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding cooperation in defence matters, which is testimony to both countries’ efforts to boost bilateral ties in this field.