Australia's Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson will fly to Singapore and Malaysia this weekend for regional security talks.
Dr Nelson said he would attend the fifth Asia Security Conference, known as the "Shangri-La Dialogue" hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
By Neville D'Cruz
MELBOURNE, June 2 (Bernama) -- Australia's Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson will fly to Singapore and Malaysia this weekend for regional security talks.
Dr Nelson said he would attend the fifth Asia Security Conference, known as the "Shangri-La Dialogue" hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Defence Secretary Ric Smith and Australian Defence Forces Chief Angus Houston will also represent Australia at the dialogue.
Delegates from the US, Britain, France, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Southeast Asian nations are also expected to attend the talks.
Dr Nelson is scheduled to deliver a speech on Sunday about building a regional security community.
After the Singapore visit, Dr Nelson will head to Malaysia for the triennial Five Power Defence Arrangement meeting of defence ministers from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Britain and New Zealand.
Maritime security, disaster relief and effective threat response would be on the agenda for the multilateral summit, he said.
Dr Nelson will also visit Australian forces based in Butterworth.
-- BERNAMA
