ADMM's Record Number Of Initiatives 'Living Proof' Of Commitment To Regional Peace

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) has reached a historic milestone by approving a record number of initiatives in a single year, an achievement described as "living proof" of the bloc's commitment to a peaceful and stable region.

In his closing remarks, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the adoption of key documents, including the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity, is crucial for guiding the region's future security landscape.

"These documents are living proof of our shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and forward-looking ASEAN. They show that the ADMM is not just a forum of formality, but a vibrant community of purpose and progress.

"Throughout our discussions, one message has rung clear: ASEAN’s strength lies not in power or dominance, but in partnership and dialogue," he said at the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting here today. 

He added that the spirit of cooperation over competition and solidarity over separation is what keeps the ASEAN region stable and its future secured, and that its members must hold true to the principle of "ASEAN First". 

"Peace is never automatic. It must be actively built, protected and renewed, together as one ASEAN family," he said. 

The 19th ADMM and 12th ADMM-Plus meetings are taking place from today to Nov 2, with participation from eight dialogue partners: the US, Russia, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.

-- BERNAMA