Hishammuddin meets US Defence Secretary

Newly-appointed Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on Sunday met US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel on the sidelines of the third day of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2013 in Singapore.

During the meeting, Hishammuddin exchanged some regional defence security issues and further deliberated on ways to enhance bilateral defence relations between both countries.

According to a statement from the defence ministry, other than discussing bilateral and multilateral issues, Hishammuddin had extensive discussions on the new challenges of regional security, with special emphasis on cyberspace and the role of social media.

This was the first meeting for both Hishammuddin and Hagel since their respective appointments as defence minister and secretary of defence, said the statement.

Hishammuddin has also invited Hagel to visit Malaysia to bring the bilateral interaction to a higher level, it said.

The Shangri-La Dialogue 2013 is the first overseas visit since Hishammuddin took up the defence portfolio, and he has met his Asean counterparts from Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines, in addition to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Canada and Sri Lanka.