Opening Remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Putrajaya Forum Opening Dinner

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) defence ministers held their historic first ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) with their 8 (Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States of America) key defence and security partners in Hanoi on 12 October 2010. What were the key takeaways from this meeting?First, the ADMM was only established four years ago in Kuala Lumpur. Even in this first ADMM in 2006, the idea of an ADMM-Plus had been mooted. But no one expected that we could actually convene an ADMM-Plus meeting within just four years. This is a great achievement for ASEAN - to have been able to establish the ADMM-Plus within this short span of time.

Second, during their remarks at the meeting, the Plus partner countries acknowledged and welcomed the concept of a central role for ASEAN. ASEAN has been able to play the role as the fulcrum of the regional security architecture because of its ability to serve as an honest broker. Its open and consultative nature helps to encourage discussion and build trust. And it works by consensus and does not impose its views and hence is unthreatening. Third, the meeting clearly illustrated these principles of ASEAN centrality. The Plus countries were all represented at the very highest defence levels - the Secretaries or Defence Ministers from seven Plus countries and the First Deputy Defence Minister of Russia. The gathering was able to help bridge the gap, bringing together people in a way which was convenient for them to meet. For example, US Secretary of Defense Dr Robert Gates and Chinese Defence Minister GEN Liang Guanglie, two key personalities from two key countries, were able to meet in Hanoi. This did not go unnoticed.

Fourth, the meeting allowed countries big and small to express their views, even on issues where there are differences. At the meeting, all these countries were able to discuss views in a way that showed mutual respect. This helps to create better understanding of each other's positions, priorities and interests. Such an airing is useful as it helps to find ways to bridge those concerns and differences and to build cooperation.

Fifth, we were able to look beyond differences over specific issues and focus on the common objective of all the ADMM-Plus countries - enhancing peace and stability in the region so that all our countries can develop. We were able to take steps towards building a community of cooperation based on a confluence of shared interests. Sixth, we were able to move beyond dialogue to concrete activities. We agreed to set up five Experts' Working Groups (EWGs) in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and military medicine. Each of these working groups will be co-chaired by an ASEAN country and a Plus country. The enthusiasm to contribute to these EWGs was very high. In the coming months, the modalities and principles for these EWGs and their co-chairmanship will be worked out by the current ASEAN chair Vietnam, and the next chair Indonesia, in close consultation with the host of the next ADMM-Plus meeting, Brunei. This process will help us to deliver on these concrete activities and cooperative endeavours by the time the ADMM-Plus ministers next meet in three years' time. There is a seventh take-away which is the most important point. We have now established the ADMM-Plus which is a key component of the regional security architecture. It will help lay the foundation for mutual understanding, trust and cooperation in our region. Looking ahead, there will be challenges, issues and opportunities. The first ADMM-Plus ably and effectively hosted by Vietnam has set a cooperative tone for the future. It is now up to the ASEAN and Plus countries, through its activities and working groups, to sustain the momentum, so that when we meet again in Brunei in three years' time, we will be able to say to ourselves that we have moved forward, built more trust and confidence, and are able to cooperate on issues.

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