Singapore has offered to host a centre to co-ordinate regional humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

This would allow Asean countries' militaries to respond speedily and effectively to disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines, ministers at an informal Asean-United States Defence Ministers' meeting in Hawaii noted on Friday.

Singapore's Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, offered the Changi Command and Control Centre as the new centre's base. The control centre already hosts an Information Fusion Centre that acts as a regional maritime security information-sharing hub.

During the meeting on Friday, the Asean defence ministers also welcomed the US' continued engagement in the region and its participation in the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus, which helps to strengthen practical co-operation among militaries.