New Delhi, May 21(UNI) This year's in-person Shangri-La Dialogue on Asian security scheduled for June 4-5 in Singapore has been cancelled in view of the deteriorating global Covid-19 situation due to the rise of the infectious new variant of COVID virus.
The London-based International Institute of Security Studies (IISS), organiser of the Dialogue, announced the cancellation, citing the pandemic.
"Unfortunately the global COVID-19 situation has recently deteriorated, in part because of the rise of infectious new COVID variants. In Singapore there has been a rise in local cases, recently introduced new restrictions, and the prospect of further tightening cannot be ruled out – all of which creates uncertainty.
Taken together these various factors mean that holding an in-person Shangri-La Dialogue this year has become unviable," IISS said in a statement on Thursday.
Defence ministers, senior officials, corporate leaders and influential strategists from Asia, North America, the Middle East and Europe had confirmed their participation.
Singapore's defence ministry in a statement also regretted the cancellation, adding it will "find alternative and safer avenues" for the important event.
The IISS said it remains committed to the Shangri-La Dialogue, which it had convened every year since 2002.
The Institute said it will now be in touch with all partners to discuss how this important process be taken forward.
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