India to take part in Defence Chiefs' Dialogue in Sri Lanka

India will join seven other SAARC and ten ASEAN member nations at the inaugural South and Southeast Asian Nations (SASEAN) Defense Chiefs' Dialogue- 014 from November 27 to 29 in Colombo.

The conference will be held at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo and at the Water's Edge Hotel in Battaramulla, reports the Colombo Page web site.

Defence chiefs of these 18 nations will attend the event. Senior defense officials from China and Russia are also expected to participate as observers.

The Russian Neustrashimy class frigate Yaroslav Mudry (727) of the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet (BF) is scheduled to arrive here later this month, the Island daily reported.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov will attend the three-day conference, while China is expected to send a delegation of senior military officers.

Besides India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, The Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei have confirmed their participation in the dialogue.

The SASEAN Dialogue aims to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and cooperation in the spheres of defence and security.