Vietnam attends ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting Plus (ADSOM+)

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam led by Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense attended the Conference.

In his opening speech, thanking and appreciating the countries' support for the Chair of Malaysia, Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, Head of the Malaysian Delegation, said that the ADSOM and ADSOM+ Conferences are important in realizing the contents and cooperation goals within the framework of ADMM and ADMM+ through promoting dialogue and substantive cooperation between ASEAN and partner countries, enhancing common understanding and awareness.

Representatives of countries attending the Conference agreed that ADMM+ is a substantive, effective and highly adaptable multilateral defense cooperation mechanism.

President of Malaysia, Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia delivered the opening speech.

The meeting heard a report on the results of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting + Working Group (ADSOM + WG), a report from the ASEAN Secretariat on the recent situation of ASEAN; updated the implementation of the Work Plan of the ADMM + Expert Groups for the 2024-2027 period; and reviewed the draft thematic Joint Statement of the ADMM + Conference commemorating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of ADMM +.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense at the Conference.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that the ADSOM+ Conference's adoption of the Joint Statement on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of ADMM+ is of great significance, demonstrating solidarity, vision, commitment and shared responsibility for peace , stability and cooperation in the region.

In the spirit of solidarity, friendliness and cooperation, Vietnam hopes that countries will put aside their differences so that the Conference can reach consensus and be successful. Vietnam affirms its support at the highest level for the decision of the ASEAN Chair 2025.

At the Conference, the Heads of Delegations also discussed and agreed on many important contents in the preparation work for the 12th ADMM+ Conference scheduled to take place in November 2025.

On the sidelines of the ADSOM and ADSOM+ Conferences , Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien had bilateral meetings with the Heads of Delegations of Thailand and New Zealand ; and bilateral meetings with the Heads of Delegations of Australia, China, Russia, the United States, and India.

Meeting with General Tharapon Malakam, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly appreciated the effective defense cooperation results between the two countries' defense ministries in recent times, especially in the fields of delegation exchange; training; military cooperation, security, maritime safety; coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international events organized by each side.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with General Tharapon Malakam, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defense.

In the coming time, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen cooperation in exchanging delegations at all levels; effectively maintain the mechanism of dialogue, consultation, and information sharing; encourage cooperation in maritime security and safety, effectively implement the communication mechanism between the Vietnam Coast Guard and Thai-MECC (Thailand Maritime Command Center); suggest that Thai-MECC soon receive liaison officers of the Vietnam Coast Guard to work at the Center; continue to coordinate effectively in search and rescue work, humanely treat fishermen who violate each other's waters; promote cooperation in navy, cyber security, exchange of experiences in border management, prevention, combat, and fight against transnational organized crimes...

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense supports extensive cooperation between the two countries' armies, as well as Thailand's initiatives in the ADMM, hoping that the two sides will further strengthen their cooperation effectively, contributing to building and strengthening each country's defense, and making practical contributions to the Vietnam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Tharapon Malakam affirmed his agreement to strengthen defense cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam, and his readiness to coordinate and effectively implement the areas of cooperation agreed upon by both sides at the Vietnam-Thailand Defense Policy Dialogue held in March 2025, promote delegation exchanges at all levels, cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Thai Maritime Command Center, cyber security, cross-border crime prevention, and defense industry; thereby making substantial contributions to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries; and hoped that the two sides would continue to coordinate and support each other in multilateral forums, especially within the ASEAN framework, contributing to strengthening intra-bloc solidarity and enhancing ASEAN's position.

Meet Sir Richard Shmitdt, Deputy Secretary General of Defence, New Zealand, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that Vietnam always attaches importance to the relationship and highly appreciates New Zealand's potential and position in the regional and international arena.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with Mr. Richard Shmitdt, Deputy Secretary General of Defence of New Zealand.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said, In recent times, bilateral defense cooperation has achieved a number of positive results in the fields of delegation exchanges, dialogues and consultations, training, United Nations peacekeeping, maritime security, defense intelligence, etc. At the same time, the Senior Lieutenant General highly appreciated the two sides' exchange of experiences in psychological and mental health care for Vietnam's United Nations peacekeeping forces before and after being deployed to the Missions.

To further enrich and deepen the defense cooperation, commensurate with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two defense ministries promote delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and consultation-dialogue mechanisms; and prioritize promoting cooperation in training and United Nations peacekeeping.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that New Zealand consider granting more language and specialized scholarships in New Zealand, as well as supporting English improvement for the Level 2 Field Hospital and the Engineering Corps of Vietnam; further deepening maritime security cooperation, researching and expanding cooperation in areas of both sides' needs and capabilities such as cyber security, military medicine, defense industry, promoting mutual support and consultation in international and regional security mechanisms and forums, especially ADMM+, towards the ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025.

Vietnam supports New Zealand in its role as co-chair of the ADMM+ Experts' Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief for the 2024-2027 period with Singapore.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic relations; we hope that the two countries' Ministries of National Defense will carry out practical and effective defense cooperation activities, contributing to this important event.

Sir Richard Shmitdt They agreed to highly appreciate the results achieved in bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries in recent times, and at the same time wished to promote cooperation in many fields such as defense industry, United Nations peacekeeping, maritime security cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially ADMM+.

Meeting with Mr. Hugh Jeffrey, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Strategy, Policy and Defense Industry, Australian Ministry of Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his pleasure to meet the Deputy Secretary General again after the 8th Vietnam-Australia Defense Policy Dialogue recently held in Hanoi, emphasizing that in just over a month, the two sides have coordinated to organize many important cooperation activities.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with Mr. Hugh Jeffrey, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Strategy, Policy and Defence Industry, Australian Department of Defence.

Mr. Hugh Jeffrey emphasized that Vietnam is an important partner of Australia, in which defense cooperation is the main pillar with highlights in cooperation in education, training, and United Nations peacekeeping. Australia hopes that the two sides will promote research to expand other areas of cooperation.

In the coming time, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien suggested that the two sides actively implement the results of the recent Dialogue, as well as the signed 3-year Defense Cooperation Plan for the period 2025-2027; continue to strengthen cooperative relations, effectively implement a number of contents such as delegation exchanges, contacts at all levels, especially high-level; cooperation between military services, military medicine, overcoming war consequences, defense industry, border management, implementing the Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement signed at the end of July 2025.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that Vietnam highly appreciates Australia's participation and active contributions to the ADMM+, in which Australia has co-chaired all five cycles of the ADMM+ Experts' Group since its establishment. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien acknowledged Australia's proposal to co-chair the ADMM+ Experts' Group on Maritime Security for the 2027-2030 period with Vietnam.

Meeting with Colonel Song Xinh, Deputy Director of the Overseas Military Security Coordination Center, Office of International Military Cooperation, Head of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense Delegation, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien was pleased to witness the strong development of Vietnam-China relations. The series of activities of the two countries' senior leaders created a high point of high-level exchanges and contacts, demonstrating the very high level of bilateral relations.

On the basis of the good traditional friendship between the two countries, defense cooperation has always been identified as one of the important pillars, constantly expanding, becoming more and more in-depth, substantial and effective. Thank you to the Chinese Ministry of National Defense for sending military personnel to participate in the parade on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 2025) and the 80th Anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, leaving many good and profound impressions, vividly demonstrating the close relationship of "both comrades and brothers" between Vietnam and China.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with Colonel Song Xinh, Deputy Director of the Overseas Military Security Coordination Center, Office of International Military Cooperation, Head of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense delegation.

Colonel Song Xinh highly appreciated the good development of Vietnam-China relations, especially the exchange of delegations and high-level contacts as well as the promotion of the implementation of defense cooperation contents in recent times, hoping that the two sides will promote Vietnam-China relations in general and defense cooperation between the two countries in particular to develop more and more strongly.

Meeting with Major General Aleksandr Zinchenko, Deputy Director General of the General Department of International Military Cooperation, Ministry of Defense of Russia on the sidelines of the ADSOM+ Conference, the two Heads of the Vietnamese and Russian delegations shared their assessment that over the past time, on the basis of the good traditional friendship, comprehensive strategic partnership, and the attention of the two countries' senior leaders, bilateral defense cooperation continues to be implemented in the spirit of "trust, practicality, efficiency, and comprehensiveness", in accordance with cooperation documents and agreements.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien met with Major General Aleksandr Zinchenko, Deputy Director General of the Directorate for International Military Cooperation, Russian Ministry of Defense.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that Vietnam has built the Vietnam-Soviet Union Solidarity and Friendship Monument to pay tribute to Soviet military experts who helped Vietnam; affirming that throughout the history of resistance for national independence and reunification, the Vietnamese people have always received the sincere, loyal and effective help of countries and international friends, comrades and friends who have spared no effort, wealth and even blood for the independence and peace of Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien respectfully invited Major General Aleksandr Zinchenko to visit Vietnam and visit the Monument at the Vietnam Military History Museum.

Major General Aleksandr Zinchenko expressed his emotion and gratitude to Vietnam for building the monument, hoping that the two sides will continue to promote substantive and effective defense cooperation in the coming time .

During a bilateral meeting with Mr. Andrew Byers, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that cooperation in overcoming war consequences in Vietnam is an activity of great significance and importance to the Vietnam-US relationship in general and bilateral defense cooperation in particular.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Andrew Byers, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia.

Through recent high-level exchanges and contacts, leaders of the two countries and the two Ministries of Defense highly appreciated the results achieved by both sides in cooperation to overcome the consequences of war and pledged to continue promoting cooperation in this field.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hopes that the US authorities will coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to effectively implement the cooperation documents on overcoming the consequences of war that have been agreed upon by the leaders of both sides; continue to prioritize mobilizing resources to speed up progress, aiming to thoroughly handle dioxin-contaminated soil in the Bien Hoa airport area and support Vietnam in handling dioxin-contaminated hotspots at Phu Cat airport and some other areas; continue to cooperate closely to organize the implementation of the project to support the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities in eight provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange to ensure progress, continue to coordinate and effectively deploy cooperation in searching for Vietnamese soldiers who died, were lost, or went missing during the war...

Expressing his impression after his recent visit and work in Vietnam, Mr. Andrew Byers believes that in the coming time, cooperation between the two countries' Defense Ministries will continue to develop, for the benefit of each country, for peace, stability and common development of the region and the world, contributing to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Vietnam and the United States.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien had a bilateral meeting with Colonel Anurag Srivastava, Advisor on International Cooperation, Ministry of Defense of India.

During the bilateral meeting with Colonel Anurag Srivastava, Advisor on International Cooperation, Ministry of Defence of India, the two heads of delegations agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, including delegation exchanges, especially high-level delegations, cooperation between armed services, training, defence industry, and UN peacekeeping. The two sides also discussed promoting the 15th Vietnam-India Defence Policy Dialogue in Vietnam.

NINH CO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/viet-nam-du-hoi-nghi-quan-chuc-quoc-phong-cap-cao-asean-mo-rong-adsom-post910619.html