ASEAN defense ministers Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to address emerging security challenges, such as cyber security, potential communicable diseases and climate change.

A press statement, issued Tuesday following the 7th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) here, said ASEAN fully supports the inaugural ADMM-PLUS Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise to be held in Brunei, as landmark cooperation among the defense forces of the ADMM-PLUS members states.

ASEAN defense chiefs also adopted four concept papers namely:

- Establishing an ASEAN defense interaction programs;

- The establishment of logistics support framework;

- The establishment of the ADMM-PLUS experts' working group on humanitarian mine action;

- The transition of the ADMM-PLUS experts' working group co- chairmanship.

In the Joint Declaration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers, ASEAN defense ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

They also expressed support for their "leaders' commitment at the 22nd ASEAN Summit for ASEAN to work actively with China towards the early conclusion of a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to promote peace and stability."

The theme of the 7th ADMM is "Securing Our People, Our Future Together".

The ADMM is the highest defense mechanism with 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 groups Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.