Vientiane: Lao People's Democratic Republic stated Thursday that it is working with the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to reinforce defense cooperation to face current and future circumstances. Laos' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Chansamone Chanyalath made the statement during an ASEAN ministerial meeting, held over two days in the capital Vientiane, revealing that the meeting's focal issue was defense cooperation between member states. According to Kuwait News Agency, General Chansamone Chanyalath was quoted by Vientiane Times as saying that the meeting's focal issue was defense cooperation between member states. He remarked that regional and international conditions are growing more complex with unpredictable threats and challenges affecting peace, security, cooperation, and socioeconomic development. The defense minister elaborated that this encompasses conventional and unconventional challenges of geopolitical transformations, competi tion between major powers, arms races, and natural catastrophes. He affirmed that these conditions require furthering dialogue, ensuring regional flexibility, and adaptability to challenges. He added that to protect the Association's unity and centrality, member states should work in cohesion. ASEAN defense ministers reached an agreement on meeting objectives, which are key to the Association's political and security future, as well as a number of other joint issues. The Association member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with dialogue partners such as India, United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
