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The 20th Shangri-La Dialogue kicked off in Singapore on Friday with officials and scholars from about 40 nations in attendance. It's expected to promote peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The title of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's speech was "The United States' Leadership in the Indo-Pacific." He said the Indo-Pacific was the most consequential region for the 21st century, and also stressed the need to boost dialogue between China and the U.S. In respond, Dr Zhao Hai, director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, said the U.S. needs to reduce its activities, like military drills, that take place close to Chinese shores.