​BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Wednesday, 16 June 2021 – The 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) was successfully held virtually today at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas. The meeting was chaired by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Minister of Defence II, in his capacity as Brunei Darussalam ADMM-Plus Leader.

Present were Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, and Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Strategy) in their respective capacity as Brunei Darussalam ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) Leader and Brunei Darussalam ADSOM-Plus Working Group Leader.

Yang Berhormat Minister of Defence II in his opening remarks, extended his appreciation for the continued support by ASEAN Member States and Plus Countries alike to Brunei Darussalam’s chairmanship of ADMM and its related meetings this year. The meeting observed the progress of the seven (07) ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups (ADMM-Plus EWGs), noting the resumption of activities this year following a postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The leaders were also briefed on reports on ADSOM-Plus, delivered by Brunei Darussalam ADSOM- Plus Leader.

Also present at the virtual meeting was His Excellency Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, ASEAN Secretary-General, who delivered a report on recent developments in ASEAN and highlighted developments in other sectoral bodies and pillars. The Defence Ministers also exchanged views on the regional and international security environment.

The 8th ADMM-Plus also agreed to adopt the ‘Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration by the ADMM- Plus in Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the ADMM on Promoting a Future-Ready, Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN’.

Following the conclusion of the the meeting, Brunei Darussalam will host the ADMM Retreat in November 2021, which will also include the Handover Ceremony to Cambodia as the next Chair for ADMM and its related meetings in 2022.

MENTERI PERTAHANAN KEDUA MEMPENGERUSIKAN MESYUARAT MENTERI-MENTERI PERTAHANAN ASEAN PLUS KE-8 (ADMM-PLUS)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Rabu, 16 Jun 2021 – Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN Plus ke-8 (ADMM-Plus) telah berlangsung dengan jayanya pada hari ini secara dalam talian bertempat di Pusat Persidangan Antarabangsa, Berakas. Mesyuarat ini telah dipengerusikan oleh Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (B) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Menteri Pertahanan Kedua selaku Ketua ADMM-Plus Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Turut hadir ialah Brigedier Jeneral (B) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan selaku Ketua ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) Negara Brunei Darussalam, dan Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Timbalan Setiausaha Tetap (Dasar dan Strategi), Kementerian Pertahanan, selaku Ketua ADSOM- Plus Working Group Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pertahanan Kedua semasa ucapan alu-aluan beliau, merakamkan penghargaan atas sokongan negara-negara ASEAN dan Plus kepada Negara Brunei Darussalam selaku pengerusi ADMM dan mesyuarat-mesyuarat berkaitan. Mesyuarat tersebut antara lain mengambil perhatian kemajuan tujuh (07) Kumpulan Kerja Pakar ADMM-Plus yang telah ditunda pada tahun 2020 berikutan dengan pandemik COVID-19. Mesyuarat tersebut juga telah mengambil maklum laporan mengenai ADSOM-Plus yang disampaikan oleh Ketua ADSOM-Plus Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Turut hadir ke mesyuarat tersebut ialah Tuan Yang Terutama Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, Setiausaha Agung ASEAN, yang mana beliau memberikan laporan mengenai perkembangan terkini ASEAN, termasuk perkembangan dalam sektor-sektor dan tonggak-tonggak ASEAN yang lain. Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan juga bertukar pandangan mengenai persekitaran keselamatan rantau dan sejagat.

Mesyuarat ADMM-Plus ke-8 telah bersetuju untuk menerima pakai ‘Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration by the ADMM-Plus in Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the ADMM on Promoting a Future-Ready, Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN’.

Dengan berakhirnya mesyuarat ADMM-Plus ke-8 ini, Negara Brunei Darussalam akan mengendalikan ADMM Retreat pada bulan November 2021 termasuk Upacara Serah Terima Pengerusi ADMM dan Mesyuarat-Mesyuarat berkaitan kepada Kemboja sebagai Pengerusi ADMM bagi tahun 2022.