Hanoi (VNA) - Organisers of the 2020 Shangri-LaDialogue have announced that the forum, initially scheduled for June 5-7 inSingapore, will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inits statement released on the website, the International Institute forStrategic Studies (IISS), an international affairs think-tank, said given thatthe dialogue draws participation from more than 40 countries, many of whichhave imposed travel restrictions, the IISS has decided that the only sensiblecourse at this point is to notify delegates and other interested parties thatthe event will not take place this year.
Shangri-LaDialogue is an annual inter-governmental security forum attracting defenceministers and army chiefs from 28 Asia-Pacific countries. It also draws seniormilitary officials, diplomats and weapons producers across the world since itsfirst meeting in 2002.
Theevent also provides a platform to discuss regional defence and security issueswhile maintaining community sense in orientations to policymaking in thefield./.