SINGAPORE, Saturday, 2 June 2018 – Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Second Minister of Defence attended the 17th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue at the Shangri-La Hotel, Republic of Singapore.
The two-day conference discussed a wide range of current security issues, including challenges in the Indo-Pacific and prospects for greater cooperation, the situation in the Korean Peninsula, terrorism and maritime security in the region. Ministers also had the opportunity for an open exchange of views during Ministerial roundtables.
Delivering a keynote address at the welcoming dinner held the night before, was Republic of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he spoke of developments in implementing India’s Act East policy, characterised by deeper engagements in the region, in particular with ASEAN, and several partner countries. The Prime Minister outlined his vision for a rules-based Indo-Pacific that is open, free and inclusive, with Southeast Asia at its centre. The Prime Minister also shared that its engagements have expanded from economics and trade to strategic and security relationships.
Yang Berhormat Second Minister of Defence also attended a reception and dinner at the Istana hosted by Her Excellency Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore.
At the sideline of Shangri-La Dialogue, Yang Berhormat Second Minister of Defence attended the United States – ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Building on the momentum from a similar sideline meeting at last year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the United States – ASEAN meeting this time highlighted U.S’ and ASEAN’s priorities in the Asia-Pacific as well as issues of common concern.
Yang Berhormat Second Minister of Defence also held several bilateral meetings with counterparts, notably from the host country Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.


Yang Berhormat Second Minister of Defence in a group photo with US Secretary of Defence, His Excellency James Mattis and his ASEAN Counterparts after the US – ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting at the sidelines of 17th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue
MENTERI PERTAHANAN II MENGHADIRI IISS SHANGRI-LA DIALOGUE YANG KE-17
SINGAPURA, Sabtu, 2 Jun 2018 – Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (Bersara) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Menteri Pertahanan Kedua menghadiri IISS Shangri-La Dialogue yang ke-17 di Shangri-La Hotel, Republik Singapura.
Yang Berhormat Menteri Pertahanan Kedua juga telah menghadiri resepsi dan makan malam di Istana yang telah dihoskan oleh Presiden Singapura, Puan Yang Terutama Halimah Yacob.
Di samping Shangri-La Dialogue, Yang Berhormat Menteri Pertahanan Kedua turut menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat dan negara-negara ASEAN. Mesyuarat ini adalah kesinambungan kepada mesyuarat yang sama pada tahun lepas. Mesyuarat U.S – ASEAN kali ini telah menegaskan keutamaan Amerika Syarikat dan ASEAN mengenai keselamatan rantau Asia-Pasifik dan isu-isu kepentingan bersama.
Beberapa Mesyuarat Dua-Hala turut diadakan bersama rakan sejawat khususnya daripada negara tuan rumah Singapura, Malaysia, Australia, Kanada dan United Kingdom.
Turut hadir semasa dialog ini ialah Mejar Jeneral Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, Kolonel (U) Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Pengarah Perisikan, Haji Adi Ihram Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Pengarah Dasar Pertahanan, and Muhd Shahrul Nizzam Umar, Pengarah Institut Pengajian dan Pertahanan Strategik Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Sejak penubuhannya pada tahun 2002, acara tahunan ini telah berkembang menjadi satu platform dialog pertahanan yang terkemuka di Asia dan terus digunakan sebagai satu landasan untuk berkomunikasi secara terbuka bagi membina keyakinan dan meningkatkan lagi kerjasama secara praktikal di antara pihak-pihak yang membuat dasar pertahanan dan keselamatan.