"At the end of the ACDFM forum, the chairmanship of ACDFM for 2024 was handed over to the Lao armed forces officials (Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of General Staff Department Lao People's Army Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaisone)," Margono said.
The Lao military will host the 21st ACDFM in 2024, and Margono said he will support Laos as the next chair, along with other support from ASEAN countries' defense forces.
He explained that ACDFM, which has entered its 20th year, is an annual event that aims to build relations between ASEAN countries in the field of defense.
Although the event is routine, he said, every forum is expected to be enhanced, in terms of operations and intelligence, to establish closer relations among ASEAN countries.
According to Margono, there were many things discussed at the ACDFM forum, including the development of geopolitical situations, both global and regional, and the main theme of prosperity and security.
"The region's stability, either land, sea, or air, is secure, while from an economic point of view, I believe the ASEAN region will improve further. We agree to maintain regional stability to improve welfare in the region," he said.
The TNI commander also revealed the reason the Myanmar military commander did not attend the forum, but the Myanmar defense attaché to Indonesia, Brigadier General Phyo Zaw Soe DA, was sent.
"We did not force (Myanmar to come). We had invited them, but they sent another representative, which was their defense attaché. Maybe there were other priorities there," he said.
He stressed that the ACDFM was not related to politics, either domestically or abroad, but purely interested in defense cooperation.
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Translator: Rolandus N, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
