HANOI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Retreat opened here Monday, drawing defense ministers or representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

In his opening speech, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh said in the context of increasing cooperation among countries and regions to deal more effectively with security challenges, the formation of a cooperation mechanism at defense minister-level of ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partners will be of great importance to maintaining peace and common security, said Thanh.

At the meeting, delegates are expected to discuss and consider the agenda and tentative program for the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the ADMM-Plus' formality and procedures, and the joint declaration for the first ADMM-Plus, according to a press release issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense here on Monday.

Participants will also exchange their views on regional security situation, said the press release.

The first ADMM-Plus meeting will be held on Tuesday, joining defense ministers or representatives from ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners including Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.