SINGAPORE, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers participating in the fifth Asia Security Conference here Saturday called on countries in the region to move from dialogue to practical cooperation.
"The ministers felt that there was a need to move from dialogue to practical cooperation so that we can more effectively address common threats and challenges such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security and peace support missions," said a statement issued by the Singapore Ministry of Defense.
The statement came after a private luncheon hosted by Singapore' s Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean for 16 visiting defense ministers and ministerial representatives.
Noting the importance of existing regional groupings and structures, the ministers agreed that more activities to build regional capacity, such as tabletop or joint exercises, should be encouraged.
Organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the three-day meeting, also known as the Shangri-la Dialogue, gathered some 250 delegates from more than 20 countries and regions in Asia Pacific, North America and Europe to address major regional security issues.
The dialogue, which opened on Friday night, has been held at Singapore's Shangri-la hotel annually since its inauguration in 2002. Enditem
