The 7th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) is held here Tuesday with the theme " Securing Our People, Our Future Together."

The meeting will review the existing ASEAN defense cooperation and consider new initiatives to support ASEAN efforts in building communities, in particular the ASEAN Political Security Community.

The meeting will also witness the reception of reports on preparations for the Second Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Exercise and ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus Humanitarian and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise.

ASEAN defense chiefs are expected to have an exchange of views on regional and international security and defense matters.

The ADMM is the highest defense mechanism within ASEAN which provides a platform for strategic dialogue and practical cooperation. It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defense and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.

ASEAN was formed on Aug. 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.