ASEAN NEEDS TO FIND COMMON AREAS TO FORGE DEFENCE COOPERATION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Asean, with its members having different
levels of capability in defence fields, should seek common areas to forge
defence cooperation for mutual benefit, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
said.

With the full commitment of Asean members, each country would be able to
move forward in their endeavour to forge cooperation, he said at the Asean
Defence Industry dialogue held in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia
(DSA) 2010 exhibition and conference here.

"I am mindful that the members are at different levels of defence industry
development.

"Some of us have strength in certain areas while others have limited
capabilities. I am sure that we could identify common areas where we could
operate for our mutual benefit," he said.

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Zahid said there was no doubt that cooperation in the defence industry would
add value to the ongoing efforts in strengthening the political and security
pillar of Asean.

Through such dialogue, it would be a significant development in forging
cooperation.

The four-day DSA 2010, which entered its final day Thursday, is Asia's
biggest defence exhibition and the fifth biggest in the world, showcasing the
latest in defence technologies.
-- BERNAMA