The organizer of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has informed the Singaporean government that it remains committed to organizing the annual event early next month, the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) said on Monday.

The 19th edition of the event, which is traditionally held at the Shangri-La Hotel, is slated to take place from June 4 to 5. It was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the years, the SLD has provided a "significant and necessary platform in Singapore" that allows top government officials and other participants from around the world to engage on key defense and security issues, MINDEF said.

However, on Monday, the World Economic Forum cancelled its 2021 annual meeting scheduled for Singapore in three month's time in consideration of a uncertain travel outlook, differing speeds of vaccination rollout and the uncertainty around new variants. 

Singapore reported 21 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health in the country, adding that the overall number of new cases in the community has increased from 32 cases in the week before to 149 cases in the past week.  

(With input from agencies)