The Shangri-La Dialogue

Dr John Chipman Opening Remarks SLD 2008

The 7^th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was successfully concluded on 1 June 2008.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is recognised as a key event for defence and security diplomacy for the region. Since its inaugural meeting in 2002, the Dialogue has become an integral part of the architecture of Asian defence diplomacy and is seen as the region's premier and most inclusive security institution. The Shangri-La Dialogue continues to serve as the best available vehicle in the Asia-Pacific region for developing and channelling astute and effective public policy on defence and security.

The 27 invited countries are represented by delegations comprising defence ministers, chiefs of staff and other senior security policy-makers.

Countries Represented Since 2002

Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, UK, US, Vietnam

Agendas

View the 2008 Speaker Agenda

Plenary Session Speeches

View the 2008 Plenary Session Speeches

Image Galleries

View the image gallery for the 2008 Shangri-La Dialogue
View the image gallery for use by the press/journalists

Press Coverage

View the 2008 press coverage

Summit Report

The IISS has compiled a report on the 2008 Dialogue containing details of the plenary sessions and a flavour of the discussions in the breakout groups.

The Shangri-La Dialogue Report 2008 is available online.

Press Policy

View the 2008 press policy

2008 Sponsors

The following organisations have generously sponsored the 2008 Shangri-La Dialogue: The Asahi Shimbun newspaper, BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, EADS, Keppel Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Singapore Technologies Engineering, Thales, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. We are most grateful for their support and look forward to welcoming delegates from these organisations to future meetings. Valuable financial contributions were also provided by the governments of Australia and Singapore. We would also like to acknowledge Bain & Co's generous sponsorship of the Opening Dinner.