PM to address Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time

New Delhi: Narendra Modi will be the first Prime Minister to give a keynote address in prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1 when he visits Singapore.

Prime Minister will visit Indonesia and Singapore from May 29 to June 2.

It will be his first official visit to Indonesia and second to Singapore.

The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is a "Track One" inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific states.

The summit serves to cultivate a sense of community among the most important policymakers in the defence and security community in the region.

Government delegations have made the best out of the meeting by holding bilateral meetings with other delegations on the sidelines of the conference.

While primarily an inter-governmental meeting, the summit is also attended by legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists and business delegates.

It is learned that Prime Minister would be speaking on security issues of the Asia-Pacific region.

Modi's visit to Indonesia and Singapore is part of India's continued engagement with the region and in keeping with the Act East policy,

Secretary (East) Preeti Saran said on Thursday in a media briefing.

"India and Indonesia will also mark 70 years of their diplomatic relations. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has earlier visited India and was also part of ASEAN leaders who were guests of honour at this year's Republic Day celebrations," the top MEA official said.

Modi will sign several agreements in important sectors with both Indonesia and Singapore, she said.

The highlight of the Prime Minister's visit to Singapore will be his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue. It will be for the first time that India's Prime Minister will be delivering the keynote address at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue.

It will be an occasion for the Prime Minister to spell out his thoughts and philosophy about India's stand on defence, security and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, she added.

Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with the Indonesian leadership on major areas of cooperation between the

two countries like science and technology, trade and commerce and increasing connectivity through land, sea and air routes with the ASEAN nations.