Bolkiah Garrison,  May 21 (AseanAll)  — The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Brunei Darussalam and the Department of Defence of Australia conducted the 19th Joint Defence Working Committee (JDWC) Meeting physically at the Officer’s Mess, Bolkiah Garrison on May 17, said the MinDef in a statement.

The meeting was co-chaired by Adi Ihram Mahmud, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Strategy), Ministry of Defence of Brunei and David Lewis, Assistant Secretary (Southeast Asia), International Policy Division, Department of Defence of Australia. 

The JDWC Meeting reaffirmed Brunei Darussalam and Australia's longstanding and positive bilateral defence and military relationship. 

The meeting also discussed the progress of bilateral defence cooperation, as well as explored prospects for upcoming defence engagements. 

Both sides also exchanged views on the regional security dynamics and reviewed the ongoing co-chairmanship of the 4th cycle of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (ADMM-Plus EWG on MM).

The JDWC between Brunei Darussalam and Australia was established through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between the Government of  the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Australia signed on 10 May 1999. The MoU served as a framework for fostering closer defence relations and cooperation between the defence establishments and armed forces of both countries, such as through courses, training, military exercises, the exchange of information on matters pertaining to security and visits between the respective defence and military senior officials.