Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam emphasized the central role and consensus of the ASEAN member countries which have been prescribed in the bloc’s most common principles. He suggested the member countries assert ASEAN’s independence in all decisions made that relate to inner security issues. Participants discussed proposals of the member countries, including the expansion of direct communications infrastructure submitted by Brunei, the establishment of the ASEAN military medicine conference of Myanmar, and security issues and role of the defense force in addressing illegal fishing of Thailand.