GEORGE TOWN: The 19th Asean Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM) sees the inaugural participation of the Timor-Leste Navy delegation as an observer.
This edition of ANCM also hosts the 3rd Asean Multilateral Naval Exercise (Amnex), a Naval Engineering Conference, and the Asean Navies’ City Parade (ANCP).
It is one of the Asean programmes under the Defence Ministry and is chaired by the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Admiral Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain.
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Themed "Advancing the Asean Navies' Unity – Synergising Innovation and Technology in Strengthening Asean Maritime Security", the meeting was officiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin at a hotel here on Tuesday (Aug 19) morning.
ANCM aims to enhance cooperation capabilities through multilateral exercises and fostering cohesion and mutual trust among Asean navies through engagement activities and dialogue sessions.
It also facilitates direct coordination of maritime operations at the operational and tactical levels.
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The five-day event until Friday (Aug 22) involves 88 naval delegates from 10 Asean countries, along with the participation of 10 ships carrying approximately 1,350 officers and personnel for the Amnex segment.
In conjunction with the ANCM, the city parade on Sunday (Aug 17) saw large crowds thronging the Esplanade in Jalan Padang Kota Lama here.
It included a parade by the various participating nations' contingents, displays by local agencies, cultural performances, maritime asset salutes and RMN helicopter flypasts.
