Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong attended the 13^th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum (JADVMF) in Tokyo, Japan on 30 January. The Forum saw the launch of Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation (JASMINE), a Japan-led cooperative platform focused on maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. DSG Ekkaphab also took the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Defense of Japan Kiyoshi Serizawa, also the Chair of the 13^th JADVMF. Concluding this year’s Forum, an official dinner was hosted by the Minister of Defense of Japan Minoru Kihara.