KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 2 -- Continuing the momentum of the historic 47th Asean Summit, defence chiefs of the region gathered at the capital for two days to shape South-east Asia's regional security architecture.

Led by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) endorsed a record number of 20 initiatives in a single year and hosted some 50 bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

Outlining Asean's vision for regional security, Khaled said security and prosperity is interdependent and inseparable for the region - and emphasised that it should remain a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan).

The regional security architecture, he said, must be guided by Asean centrality and remain Asean-...