Military officers from 26 countries debate global terrorism

Among the participants, ranging from colonels to generals, are officers from India, China, Indonesia and the United States for the seven-day event. Joining this year for the first time are officers from Sri Lanka and Botswana.

The Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers aims to "facilitate a more informed exchange of ideas and discussions among senior military officers in the region and beyond," said Barry Desker, director of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The facility has organised the annual meetings since 1999.

Terrorism remains "one of the most, if not the most, critical threat to national and international security," said Singapore's Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Countries also have to face other transnational threats such as bird flu, SARS and environmental disasters, he said.

He urged nations to come together and "manage their differences in order to advance cooperation."

//(Deutsche Presse-Agentur/DPA)