Asean defence ministers reiterate joint efforts to fight IS

Defence ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) agreed on Monday to cooperate in tackling the grave security threat from the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

At the end of the two-day 9th Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia, the ministers signed a joint declaration on maintaining regional security and stability, Xinhua news agency reported.

At a press conference, Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who chaired the meeting, said all the Asean defence ministers took note of the threat of the IS and its growing influence and linkages across the globe.

He said the defence ministers shared opinions that the root causes of IS issue should be identified and the public should be educated to create more awareness.

The Asean defence ministers also discussed several important proposals, such as the formation of Asean Militaries Ready Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and the establishment of the Asean Centre of Military Medicine, he added.