Singapore’s Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presided the opening ceremony of the ninth International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2013 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore. Sixty-one delegations from the navies, air forces and maritime enforcement agencies of 48 countries and 194 exhibitors from around the world, are participating in this year’s exhibition.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Ng said that IMDEX Asia is “a key platform for defence professionals to exchange views and enhance cooperation in the maritime domain”. Noting the importance of seaborne trade to the global economy, he stressed the need for closer collaboration by the international community to deal with the evolving maritime threats, in order to achieve “peaceful seas and continued prosperity for all”. Dr Ng highlighted that countries need to take a more collaborative approach anchored on three principles: First, platforms for dialogue and cooperation had to be open and inclusive. Second, disagreements between states should be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law. Finally, countries must strengthen practical cooperation in areas of shared interest to build understanding, if not trust.

After the opening ceremony, Dr Ng visited some of the foreign warships taking part in the IMDEX Asia 2013 Warships Display at Changi Naval Base. A total of 15 warships from nine countries are taking part in this year’s IMDEX Asia 2013 Warships Display, which is hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) from May 14 to 16, 2013.

In conjunction with IMDEX Asia 2013, the RSN will also host the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise (MARISX) 2013 and the Fourth Western Pacific Naval Symposium Multilateral Sea Exercise (4th WMSX) at the Multinational Operations and Exercises Centre located in the Changi Command and Control Centre.