Cambodia to host ASEAN security meetings

Phnom Penh (Cambodia), April 20 (Xinhua-ANI): Cambodia will host regional security meetings next week among the 10-member the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight dialogue partners.

A statement released Friday by Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense said Cambodia, as chair of the 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), will organize the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) from April 24 to 25 and ADSOM-Plus Meeting on April 26 in Cambodia's northern province of Siem Reap.

"The meeting will exchange views on regional security issues, considers the draft concept paper on review of frequency of ADMM- Plus Meetings, discusses the draft joint declaration of the ADMM on Enhancing ASEAN Unity for a Harmonized and Secure Community, and other matters," the statement said.

Gen. Neang Phat, Secretary of State of Ministry of National Defense, will chair the meeting.

Gen. Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Cambodia will give the opening remarks at the ADSOM- Plus meeting.

The ADMM was established in 2006 and it meets annually since then. The 5th ADMM was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 19 May 2011.

The ADMM is the highest defense mechanism within ASEAN with an aim to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defense and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.

The ASEAN defense ministers discuss and exchange views on current defense and security issues and challenges faced in the region at the annual ADMM.

The ADMM-Plus, however, includes the 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

The ADMM-Plus was established in 2010 and it meets triennially. The next ADMM-Plus will be held in Brunei in 2013.

The ADMM-Plus is a tool to engage ASEAN Dialogue Partners in dialogue and cooperation on defense and security matters. (Xinhua-ANI)