Ottawa -- The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will participate in the 7th International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit in Singapore frrom May 31 – June 2, 2008. Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile, Commander of Joint Task Force (Pacific)/Maritime Forces Pacific, will also attend.
"I am honoured to be the first Canadian Minister of National Defence to participate in the Asia Security Summit," said Minister MacKay. "The Asia-Pacific region is of increasing importance to Canada. Many Canadians have family connections there, and the region's economic growth has important implications for our own future prosperity. It is natural that we are taking a keen interest in Asia-Pacific security issues."
The UK-based IISS holds this academic conference on Asia-Pacific security each year in Singapore. Since 2002, the IISS has formally invited defence ministers from countries throughout the region and other parts of the world to participate in the event.
At the Summit, Minister MacKay will have the opportunity to meet collectively and bilaterally with many of their Asia-Pacific counterparts. Twenty-five countries are sending representatives to this year's event. Minister MacKay is one of 12 defence ministers who are expected to attend.
Additional information on the Asia Security Summit can be found on the International Institute of Strategic Studies website at www.iiss.org.
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