KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has extended Malaysia's congratulations and appreciation to the government of Laos for successfully chairing Asean this year.

During a meeting with Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, General Chansamone Chanyalath, at the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Vientiane on Wednesday (Nov 20), Mohamed Khaled praised Laos' accomplishments in propelling Asean forward, particularly in promoting regional defence collaboration.

"Under Laos' guidance, Asean has made significant advancements in enhancing defence collaboration, elevating the defence agenda to new levels.

"Malaysia anticipates Laos' continued support as we gear up to assume the Asean chair in 2025," Khaled said in a Facebook post.

In the same meeting, Khaled also had informal conversations with the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin. He underscored the US's role as a dialogue partner in contributing to Southeast Asia's stability and security.

It was emphasised that the US must fully recognise Asean's approach to handling regional security challenges and the necessity of prioritising Asean's centrality in regional security frameworks.

Khaled and his delegation arrived in Laos on Tuesday (Nov 19) to participate in the 18th ADMM, where Malaysia also proposed enhancing Asean's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission.

This would result in a more effective and unified response to regional disasters, benefitting all ASEAN member states. – Bernama

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/21/malaysia-commends-laos-for-successful-asean-2024-chairmanship