Dr Ng to Host Defence Ministers from ASEAN and Eight Plus Partners in Singapore

Singapore's Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen will host the Defence Ministers from ASEAN and its eight Plus Partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US, in Singapore for the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the 5th ADMM-Plus on 19 and 20 October 2018 respectively.

Dr Ng welcomed many of the Defence Ministers today as they arrived in Singapore ahead of the meetings. Dr Ng met Malaysian Minister of Defence Mohamad Sabu, who is also in Singapore for his introductory visit; Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh; Laos Minister of National Defence Lieutenant-General (LG) Chansamone Chanyalath; Myanmar Union Minister for Defence LG Sein Win; and Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General (GEN) Ngo Xuan Lich. Dr Ng thanked the Ministers for their strong support for Singapore's 2018 ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chairmanship, and reaffirmed Singapore's friendly defence relationships with these countries. 

In the morning, Dr Ng also had a bilateral call with and hosted lunch for Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense GEN Wei Fenghe, where they reaffirmed the warm and friendly defence relations between Singapore and China. Both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, and reiterated the importance of China's continued engagement of ASEAN and the region to enhance peace and stability. GEN Wei also welcomed Dr Ng's upcoming visit to China for the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise and the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. 

Dr Ng also met the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, where both sides reaffirmed the excellent and long-standing bilateral defence relationship, and Singapore's longstanding support for the US' regional presence. The two Ministers also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, including cooperation to enhance regional counter-terrorism intelligence sharing, and exchanged views on regional and international security issues.

The 12th ADMM and 5th ADMM-Plus are the pinnacle meetings of Singapore's 2018 ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chairmanship. This is the second time that Singapore is chairing the ADMM since its establishment in 2006, and the first time that Singapore is chairing the ADMM-Plus since its establishment in 2010. The ADMM and ADMM-Plus serve as key Ministerial-level platforms in the regional security architecture, promoting strategic dialogue and practical cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.

Dr Ng meeting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh prior to the ADMM on 19 October 2018.

Dr Ng meeting Laos Minister of National Defence Lieutenant-General (LG) Chansamone Chanyalath prior to the ADMM on 19 October 2018.

Dr Ng meeting Myanmar Union Minister for Defence LG Sein Win prior to the ADMM on 19 October 2018.

Dr Ng meeting Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General (GEN) Ngo Xuan Lich prior to the ADMM on 19 October 2018.

Dr Ng meeting the Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense GEN Wei Fenghe for the first time today in Singapore.

Dr Ng meeting US Secretary of Defense James Mattis prior to the ADMM-Plus on 20 October 2018.

GEN Wei and Dr Ng at lunch prior to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus on 20 October 2018.