The 7th Xiangshan Forum concluded on Wednesday after convening for three days in the Haidian District of Xiangshan near Beijing, People's Republic of China.

The forum carried the theme `Build a New Type of International Relations through Security Dialogue and Cooperation' and saw some 65 countries and global organisations from all over the world in attendance.

Present during the forum was First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence and was accompained by Captain (Rtd) Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development) at the Ministry of Defence.

The forum was preceded by a welcoming dinner co-hosted by Admiral Sun Jianguo, Chairman of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS) and the co-chair of the forum, General Cai Ying Ting, Chairman of Chinese Association for Military Science (CAMS).

The dinner attendees also
heard a keynote address delivered by Gen Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Zulkifeli bin Mohammed Zin, Chief of Defence Force of Malaysia.

The forum proper opened on October 11 with a keynote address delivered by General Chang Wanquan, State Councilor and Minister of National Defence of the People's Republic of China, who underlined the importance of mutual trust, understanding and cooperation in today's increasingly complex global security environment.

The forum this year featured several prominent speakers including General Tea Banh, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Lieutenant General Chansamone Chanyalath, Minister of Defence of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; and Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Defence of the Republic of Singapore.

On the sidelines of the forum, First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz also had a bilateral meeting with the Senior Minister of State for Defence, Republic of Singapore and paid a courtesy call on General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, People's Republic of China.

In the meeting with the Singapore Senior Minister of State for Defence, First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz and the former highlighted the excellent state of bilateral defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore.

Both sides also expressed a mutual desire to advance further the defence ties between the two countries.

During the courtesy call to the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, People's Republic of China, both sides expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory of the bilateral defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the People's Republic of China. They also discussed on regional security issues of mutual concern.

The Xiangshan Forum is an annual event, established in 2006. Organised by the CAMS and CIISS, it serves as a platform for discussions among defence scholars and experts in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss pertinent defence and security issues, bringing together defence ministers, chiefs of defence forces and other senior defence and military officials.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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