Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who chaired the meeting, stated that Minister Gomes' presence along with other defense ministers from ASEAN partner countries was a momentum to create constructive discussions for mutual interests.
"I convey to all ministers today that Timor-Leste's Defense Minister was welcomed for the first time to join the ADMM Plus forum. This is momentum after the ratification of guidelines for Timor-Leste's observer status at ADMM, ADMM Plus, and other related meetings," Minister Subianto noted at the opening of the 10th ADMM on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by all ASEAN defense ministers, except Myanmar. Ministers from ASEAN countries that attended included Cambodian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister General Tea Seiha; Laos Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath; Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen; and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
The other attendees comprised Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan; Defense Minister of Thailand Sutin Klangsang; Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Vn Giang; and Minister of Defense II of Brunei Darussalam Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Ret) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
Meanwhile, seven ASEAN partner countries also attended the meeting comprising Australian Minister of Defense Industry Pat Conroy; Deputy Chief of Staff of China's Central Military Commission, Vice Marshal Jing Jianfeng; and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Seonho; New Zealand Deputy Defense Minister Richard Anthony Schmidt; Japanese State Minister for Defense Affairs Miyazawa Hiroyuki; and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin were also in attendance.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn also attended the 10th ADMM Plus meeting directly.
During the meeting, several issues were discussed, including the adoption of the ADMM Plus joint statement on women, peace, and security.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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