November 20, 2024 9:34 PM.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from China, Laos, and Malaysia in Vientiane on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). Mr. Singh is on a three-day visit to Laos to attend this meeting and address the forum on regional and international security issues.
During his meeting with Defence Minister of China Admiral Dong Jun, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised on greater trust and confidence building between the two sides through de-escalation along the India-China border. Mr. Singh called for reflecting on the lessons learnt from the unfortunate border clashes of 2020, taking measures to prevent recurrence of such events, and safeguarding peace and tranquillity along the India-China border. Both sides agreed to work together towards a roadmap for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding.
In his meeting with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin, both sides agreed to support each other’s endeavours to arrive at meaningful outcomes to promote security and stability in the region. Both leaders also looked forward to the conduct of the Malaysia-India Defence Committee Meeting in the first quarter of 2025, wherein both sides will have detailed discussions on ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. India and Malaysia currently hold the co-chairmanship of the ADMM Plus Expert Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
During his meeting with the Defence Minister of Lao PDR, General Chansamone Chanyalath, Mr. Rajnath Singh complimented Lao PDR for its efficient and inclusive leadership as the Chair of ASEAN this year. He conveyed India’s strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality for promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
He also assured General Chansamone Chanyalath that India will continue to strengthen its ties with Lao PDR and ASEAN in all spheres. Both sides appreciated the signing of the revised MoU between the two countries, which was exchanged during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Laos recently.
The Defence Minister also attended an Indian Community event, where he highlighted the achievements India has made in various spheres in recent years.
The ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN. The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and its eight dialogue partners, including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea. The ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to bolster the cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus countries.