VNHNO - The General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) coordinated with the US Army Pacific (USARPAC) to open the 42nd Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS - 42), themed “Cooperation Among Indo-Asian Pacific Land Forces in Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Response”, in Hanoi on August 20.
The event was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hong Huong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and General Robert B. Brown, Commanding General of the US Army Pacific.
The PAMS-42 is taking place from August 19-24, featuring the participation of representatives from the UK, India, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, the Republic of Korea, the US, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, China and Vietnam.
At the opening ceremony
This year’s event includes three plenary sessions on the topics of ground forces’ initial response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), multilateral cooperation in HADR, and enhancing the roles of regional cooperation in HADR.
The parties involved will also exchange measures to promote the cooperation between the armies in the region to cope with the threats posed by natural disasters, contributing to the maintenance of regional stability.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, member of the Party Central Committee, permanent member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Defense Minister, said Indo-Asia-Pacific frequently faces various natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcano eruptions due to climate change and global warming.
Being aware of the need to enhance cooperation in and outside the region in order to cope with non-traditional challenges and offer humanitarian assistance and disaster response, the armies in Southeast Asia have promoted initiatives such as establishing the ASEAN Militaries Ready Group and issuing a Code of Conduct on the use of military assets in humanitarian assistance and disaster response, he said.
These are the practical activities to realise the goal of One ASEAN – One Response adopted by ASEAN leaders in Vientiane, Laos, in 2016, he added.
Senior Lieutenant General Giang expressed his belief that the joint work against common challenges will connect the armies together, laying a foundation for collaboration in other fields for the sake of regional peace, stability and development.
On the sidelines of the PAMS 42, the USARPAC will hold the fourth Senior Enlisted Leaders’ Symposium and invite the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to join as an observer. Several group discussions, bilateral meetings and collective exchange activities are also planned.
Following the opening ceremony, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Huong and General Brown co-chaired a press conference to provide basic information on the seminar.
Sen. Lieut. Gen. Huong said PAMS 42 contributes to strengthening friendship, mutual understanding and trust between Vietnamese army and those in the Indo-Asia-Pacific as well as reflects the active, proactive and responsible role of the Vietnam People’s Army in the region’s common issues, thus popularising Vietnam, its people and army.
The two officials answered reporters’ questions on the basic solutions to improving humanitarian assistance and disaster response./.
