REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, Sunday, 4 June 2017 – The Deputy Minister of Defence, First Admiral (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit today attended the United States-ASEAN meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2017.
The meeting was hosted by the Honourable James Mattis, Secretary of Defense, United States of America, and His Excellency Ricardo A. David, Jr, Undersecretary of Defense, Republic of the Philippines. ASEAN member countries were represented by their Ministers of Defence, Deputies and senior officials.
The meeting provided the opportunity for ASEAN Ministers of Defence, Deputies and senior officials to collectively meet James Mattis for the first time in this region since his appointment as the 26th United States Secretary of Defense on 20 January 2017. Further to this, the meeting exchanged views on regional issues and reaffirmed the importance of collective coordination and cooperation in addressing regional security challenges.
The meeting is a testament of the continued efforts by the United States’ government to further build upon the long-standing relationships and solid frameworks of cooperation with ASEAN countries, in which this year marks the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-United States relations. Since becoming a dialogue partner in 1977, the United States has actively pursued various cooperative endeavors with ASEAN countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, such as through capacity-building programmes, provision of assistance, as well as information-sharing.
The Deputy Minister of Defence alongside with ASEAN Ministers of Defence, Deputies and senior officials during the US-ASEAN Meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2017 in Singapore
The Deputy Minister of Defence warmly meets and shakes hand with the 26th US Secretary of Defence, John Mattis during the US-ASEAN Meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2017 in Singapore
The Deputy Minister of Defence alongside with US Secretary of Defence, John Mattis and ASEAN Ministers of Defence, Deputies and senior officials performing the ASEAN handshake during the US-ASEAN Meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2017 in Singapore
TIMBALAN MENTERI PERTAHANAN MENGHADIRI PERJUMPAAN DIANTARA PERWAKILAN-PERWAKILAN AMERIKA SYARIKAT DAN NEGARA-NEGARA ASEAN DI DIALOG SHANGRI-LA 2017
REPUBLIK SINGAPURA, Ahad, 4 Jun 2017 – Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Laksamana Pertama (B) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd. Tamit pada hari ini menghadiri perjumpaan diantara perwakilan-perwakilan Amerika Syarikat dan Negara-negara ASEAN. Perjumpaan tersebut dihoskan oleh Yang Berhormat James Norman Mattis, Setiausaha Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat dan Tuan Yang Terutama Ricardo A. David Jr, Setiausaha Tetap Republik Filipina. Negara-negara ASEAN diwakili oleh Menteri Pertahanan, Timbalan Menteri dan pegawai-pegawai kanan masing-masing.
Mesyuarat tersebut memberikan peluang bagi Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN serta perwakilan masing-masing untuk buat pertama kalinya mengadakan perjumpaan secara perkumpulan dengan James Mattis sejak lantikan beliau sebagai Setiausaha Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat yang ke-26 pada 20 Januari 2017. Semasa mesyuarat itu, mereka bertukar pandangan mengenai isu-isu serantau dan menekankan kepentingan koordinasi dan kerjasama kolektif dalam menghadapi cabaran-cabaran keselamatan serantau.
Pengendalian mesyuarat ini merupakan salah satu daripada usaha-usaha berterusan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat ke arah menambah baik rangka kerjasama dan hubungan yang sudah lama terjalin bersama negara-negara ASEAN, dimana tahun ini menandakan ulang tahun hubungan ASEAN-Amerika Syarikat yang ke-40. Sejak menjadi rakan dialog pada 1977, Amerika Syarikat terus bergiat aktif menceburi usaha-usaha kerjasama secara dua hala dan pelbagai hala termasuk melalui program pembangunan kapasiti, peruntukkan bantuan dan perkongsian maklumat.