ASEAN’s security in right direction: academics

CHON BURI, Aug 2 (TNA) - ASEAN bloc is in the right direction in the implementation of policies to strengthen regional security, in particular not to intervene in the internal affairs among its members, said academicians from ASEAN countries in an international seminar. The academic seminar “Connect ASEAN, Connect the World: on the ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary was held by the Strategic Studies Center of the National Defence Studies Institute in Thailand’s eastern province of Chon Buri. Security academicians from ASEAN members attending the seminar said the grouping contributed to cooperation in various fields among member countries. They said the ASEAN bloc doesn’t take side in the world arena, so it maintains good relations to outsider countries. However, the bloc is facing emerging security challenges such as the natural disaster, cyber attacks and terrorism. They need to work closely to tackle all of these problems through the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), which is the major mechanism. Academics from the world’s superpowers China and the US, an important allies of ASEAN said during the seminar that ASEAN countries has the bright future and will play more important role in the world community. Both countries want to strengthen ties and expand cooperation with ASEAN in trade, basic infrastructure and security issues. Regarding the South China Sea conflict, Chinese academics said that China and ASEAN are on the right track to stick to the negotiation and compromising approaches to solve the problems and they believed a peaceful agreement will be reached finally. (TNA)