At the online ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Vinh said ASEAN countries have demonstrated their unity and shared interests. 

“ASEAN’s high-quality defense cooperation has been maintained over the past year though we did not meet in person. We have contributed significantly to the fight against COVID-19 by releasing the Joint Statement of the ASEAN Defense Ministers on Defense Cooperation Against Disease Outbreaks and organizing medic conferences and drills,” said Mr. Vinh.

Participants discussed guidelines to avoid mid-air collisions of military aircraft, the role of ASEAN defense agencies in border management, the network of ASEAN peace keeping centers, and other issues.