The sixth Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, wrapped up on Sunday following participants from over 20 countries and regions exchanged views over a wide range of issues such as regional security and defense cooperation.
During the three-day conference, which opened here on June 1, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a keynote speech and there were five plenary sessions featuring addresses by the defense ministers of the United States, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Germany.
The participants agreed that a robust, open and inclusive security framework was important for security cooperation amongst the regional countries, while they reaffirmed the role of the dialogue in promoting transparency and mutual trust.
China was represented at a high level at the conference by Lieutenant General Zhang Qinsheng, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), who set forth China's position on security in the Asia Pacific region. He also stressed that China would strive for a peaceful international environment to develop, and try to better contribute to regional and world peace.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also said at the summit that there was reason to be optimistic about the U.S.-China ties as the two countries shared common interests on issues like terrorism, counter-proliferation, and energy security.
In his closing remarks on Sunday, John Chipman, Director- General of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said that they will work to increase the number of countries represented at the dialogue, the depth and breadth of participation.
The annual dialogue has been held at Singapore's Shangri-La hotel since its inauguration in 2002.
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