ASEAN-US agree on cooperation against regional threats

BANGKOK, October 3 (TNA) - The United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to cooperate on countering regional regional threats, particularly terrorism, pirates, migration, transnational crime, cyber crime and natural disasters. Defence Ministry Spokesman Major General Kongcheep Tantrawanit told journalists on October 2 that the agreement was reached at the ASEAN-US Defense Informal Meeting in Hawaii, scheduled for September 29-October 2 (US time). The spokesman stated that the three-day meeting, joined by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his entourage, as well as other ASEAN member countries' delegations, was aimed to further develop relations between both sides and explore approaches on regional security cooperation. The spokesman said the meeting agreed that, given the more complex and diversified security threats in the region, cooperation from all parties, both within ASEAN and from non-ASEAN states, is needed to handle the threats through coordination and cooperation networks, as well as the joint development of practical mechanisms. On the occasion, the spokesman acknowledged, US Defense Secretary Dr. Aston Baldwin Carter thanked Thailand for having been Washington's longest standing ally in Southeast Asia and having supported the United States in joint military exercises at all levels. According to the spokesman, the US defense secretary also expressed his appreciation to Thailand's attempts and progress in actions against human traffiicking, illegal fishing and civil aviation issues. Besides, the US defense secretary stressed on Washington's readiness to maintain and drive forward sound defence cooperation between the United States and Thailand. In return, the spokesman revealed, the Thai deputy prime minister and defence minister invited US Commander for Asia and the Pacific to pay an official visit to Thailand. (TNA)