New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta will be visiting Thailand next week ahead of the seventh Shangri-La Dialogue, which discusses security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, in Singapore that begins May 30. The naval chief will be in Thailand for a four day visit beginning May 26 to discuss key Asian security issues as both the countries are part of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, an official said.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, which will take place from May 30 to June 1, will discuss various issues including ‘China and India: Building International Stability’.

Amongst the other issues on the agenda are - The United States and Asia-Pacific Security, Nuclear Challenges, Securing Regional Waters and Security Cooperation in Asia: Managing Alliances and Partnerships.

The Shangri La Dialogue will draw policy-makers involved in Asian security from 27 governments represented by defence ministers, chiefs of defence staff, foreign ministers and other senior officials.

The US, Britain, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam will participate in the summit.

In 2006, the Shangri-La Dialogue saw proposals submitted for greater maritime security cooperation in the Malacca Straits and the establishment of a regional disaster and humanitarian relief centre.

The Shangri-La Dialogue remains the wider Asia-Pacific region’s only regular meeting for defence ministers.