BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Wednesday 5 November 2014 –Cooperation is key to achieve peace and prosperity, especially now with
the presence of non-traditional threats, said the co-hosts of the
Official Dinner for Chiefs of Defence Forces Conference (CHOD) 2014.
The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) said in his remarks that non-traditional threats and their consequences cross national boundaries.
“It is a fact that no single country, no matter how well resourced, can respond to the presence of non-traditional threats,” said Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah.
A region rich in culture, traditions and languages should not be perceived as barriers to neighbourly relations, said the commander, but as a strength instead.
“The strong sentiment we all feel in preserving our nation, people and culture is the strong tie that binds us all,” said Pehin Major General Dato Mohd Tawih.
CHOD 2014 brings together leaders of the military from the 26 participating nations together, the Commander of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), Admiral Samuel J Locklear said, highlighting the importance of the conference.
Admiral Locklear said in his speech that CHOD gives some of the most influential nations in the security environment the opportunity to “sit and have conversations, to think, to talk and I’m sure that keeps us on a path to peace and prosperity”.
The USPACOM Commander, in his speech, reiterated the importance of working together, stressing on the inevitability of change.
“Change is going to come and we can either lead the change for peace and prosperity for our children and our grandchildren, or we can let change pull us into places that we don’t like.”
CHOD 2014 is co-hosted by RBAF and USPACOM, and the dinner was held at the Empire Theatre of the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Jerudong.
During the dinner last night, the Chiefs of Defence and representatives from the respective nations along with their spouses, as well as delegates were entertained with an array of performances which showcased our local culture and talents, including performances by in-house talents from RBAF.
The theme last night was Kampong Ayer, one of the places visited by the conference participants during their stay in the country. Additionally, the participants were presented with gifts by both of the co-hosts of CHOD 2014.
