Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, Minister Purnomo said the event was also meant to strengthen defense cooperation among ASEAN member countries towards the goal to realize ASEAN`s political security community.
"We want the forum to be able to support ASEAN`s role in the global community too," said the minister adding that strong political security relations among ASEAN members would help the organization to play a greater role in facing global challenges.
The minister said ASEAN could not release itself from the dynamic growth of the global world which brings not only challenges but also opportunities.
Purnomo said currently the world was forced to face challenges in security sector such as terrorism, piracy, people`s smuggling, maritime security, climate change, food and energy security and the decline of natural resources. "All of the challenges have impact to the existence of defense sector in the future," he said.
The 5th ASEAN`s Defense Ministers Meeting in Jakarta takes the theme of "Strengthening ASEAN`s Defense Cooperation in Facing Global Challenges". The forum is participated in by defense ministers from ten member countries of ASEAN namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippine, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam.
(T.R018/Uu.A051/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
