China, Japan, ROK and ASEAN to discuss disaster relief by armed forces

BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Defense officers, military commanders and officials from ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will gather in China from June 24-28 to discuss post-quake and disaster relief emergency operations by armed forces, said a spokesman with the Chinese Ministry of Defense Thursday.

Spokesman Yang Yujun of the ministry made the remarks at a press briefing here.

Yang said the third Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and ROK forum on armed forces unconventional security will focus on post-quake and disaster relief emergency response operations by armed forces.

The forum, to be held in Shijiazhuang Army Command College of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), will gather defense officers and army commanders of ASEAN countries, China, Japan and ROK, as well as officials of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Also at Thursday's press briefing, Yang said that the National Defense University of the PLA will host a symposium on laws and rules regulating international relief efforts from June 10 to June 13 in Beijing.

With the theme of "obligations and rights of armed forces participating in international disaster relief", the symposium will gather military officials and law experts from relevant parties of the ASEAN Regional Forum, as well as officials of the ASEAN Secretariat.