SINGAPORE: China will send a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University to this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, marking the second straight year Beijing has opted not to dispatch its defence minister to Asia’s top security summit.
The delegation will be led by the defence university’s Major General Meng Xiangqing, the Chinese defence ministry said during a press briefing on Thursday (May 28), seemingly confirming earlier rumours that defence chief Dong Jun would not be attending the weekend event, which starts on Friday.
Major General Meng will speak at the event, as will former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organises the annual summit.
This year’s edition will see 44 countries in attendance, said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Thursday, with 54 ministerial-level delegates and over 42 Chief of Defence Forces-level delegates and senior defence officials from countries across the Asia-Pacific and Europe, as well as prominent academics.
Vietnamese President To Lam will deliver the keynote address on Friday night, while Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta will give a special address on Saturday.
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