| Hakim Hayat |
THE ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and ADSOM-Plus in Singapore concluded on a high note, with all member countries reiterating their commitment in working closely towards the region’s security and prosperity.
Permanent Secretary for Defence of the Republic of Singapore Chan Yeng Kit chaired the meetings.
The ADSOM discussed on a wide range of existing and new ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) initiatives in defence cooperation as well as joint declaration and joint statements.
The ADSOM and ADSOM-Plus meetings play a significant part in the preparations for the upcoming 12th ADMM and fifth ADMM-Plus in October this year.
The ADSOM-Plus updated on the progress of the seven ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group (ADMM-Plus EWG) which are Maritime Security, Military Medicine, Counter-Terrorism, Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian Mine Action and Cybersecurity.
Both meetings also discussed about Joint Statements on Countering Terrorism and Practical Confidence-Building Measures.
Prior to the meetings, ADSOM Working Group and ADSOM-Plus Working Group meetings were also held to further consolidate views and consensus on the concept papers tabled.
Following the conclusion of the meetings, ADSOM-Plus leaders made a joint call lunch to Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Brunei Darussalam’s ADSOM leader also had the opportunity to conduct bilateral meetings with counterparts from host country Singapore as well as Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.