Summit stresses peace, stability

Regional leaders warn of disastrous consequences of confrontation

Collaboration and dialogue are needed to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and major powers need to act responsibly, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was told this weekend.

Speakers at the 20th Asia Security Summit held from Friday to Sunday looked at many security issues and said they hoped that stakeholders such as ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, Russia and the United States can work out diplomatic solutions to problems and avoid confrontation, including disastrous conflict.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, said on Sunday that while strategic competition is inevitable, the US-China partnership "should outweigh differences in other areas of competition and rivalry between the two superpowers to help peace in the region".