SINGAPORE - The 10th IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is to raise its curtain in Singapore on Friday. Heavyweights in the military are to give their voices, including US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chinese Minister of National Defense Liang Guanglie.

The "semi-official" summit, held by London's IISS from Friday to Sunday at the Shangri-La Hotel, brought government leaders from 28 countries this year, to discuss with experts and observers the hot topics related to Asia's security issues.

Delegations to the summit were the "strongest ever", according to IISS, saying that they will be composed of defense ministers, chiefs of defense staff, permanent secretaries, military and intelligence chiefs, as well as distinguished delegates from the private sector.

The agenda includes six plenary sessions on Saturday and Sunday, after a keynote address by Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Adbul Razak, prime minister of Malaysia, at 20:00 on Friday.

Topics will cover emerging security challenges for the Asia-Pacific region, new military doctrines and capabilities in Asia, Asia's new distribution of power and its implications, China's international security cooperation, maritime security threats and building strategic confidence.

This is the first time that the host of the summit set a discussion specifically for China's role in international security cooperation.

Liang will deliver a speech on Sunday, and he is scheduled to meet with defense leaders from several countries.