ADMM Retreat Kicks Off in Siem Reap

AKP Phnom Penh, The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) kicked off this morning in Siem Reap province under the chairmanship of Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence.

In his opening remarks, Samdech Tea Banh expressed his deepest admiration and congratulation for the efforts of the leaders in the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits earlier this month, in addressing mutual security concerns, strengthening ASEAN Centrality and unity, projecting future direction, maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in ASEAN, and enhancing a more robust practical cooperation with the dialogue partners.

“These reflect the spirit of coexistence, inclusivity, openness, and ASEAN’s outward looking. We fully support the visions and measures that have been agreed upon and adopted in those meetings, especially The ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on ‘ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together’, ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Vision, as well as other measures with regard to Myanmar issue and the application of Timor-Leste for ASEAN membership,” he said.

Over the past 16 years, he continued, the ADMM has become a useful platform for strategic dialogue, confidence-building and regional cooperation to maintain peace, security, stability and prosperity of ASEAN. Indeed, while the region has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and moving towards a new normal, the current security landscape in the region and around the world remains fragile and growing increasingly uncertain. In fact, the protracted Russia-Ukraine War, North Korea’s nuclear programme, and the simmering geopolitical competition among major powers continue to pose threats and challenges to regional and global peace, and sustainable development.

This year’s ADMM and Related Meetings, under the theme ‘Solidary for Harmonised Security’ reaffirms our collective commitment in responding to challenges in our region, with the solidarity and cohesion of the ADMM as the key mechanism to tackling ASEAN’s common security challenges, especially non-traditional security concerns such as natural disasters and pandemics, Samdech Tea Banh said.

“Despite various advancements in our defence cooperation, we are still confronted with numerous traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Hence, I strongly hope that today’s meeting will allow us to discuss, exchange views, and explore appropriate and deliverable measures to address such challenges in the most effective possible way. More importantly, I believe that today’s Retreat would pave the way for subsequent ADMM Chairs to develop or prepare their agendas that reflects the rapid changes of global security environments, strengthen our commitment to the unity and Centrality of ASEAN, and ensure that ADMM remains in the driving seat in every aspect of its engagement with external partners,” he underlined.

Cambodia is hosting the 9th ADMM Retreat, the 9th ADMM-Plus, the ASEAN-U.S. Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting and the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Siem Reap, home to the famous Angkor temples from Nov. 21 to 23.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press