Asian Security Conference postponed amid coronavirus threat

Mar 11, 2020, 23:15 IST

PTI

BETHLEHEM, March 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian health staff wearing protective masks stand at the emergency entrance of Beit Jala Hospital, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, March 11, 2020. Palestine on Tuesday reported a new case of the novel coronavirus, bring the total number of the infected people to 30. Palestinian authorities have shut down the entire district of Bethlehem and prepared a specialized hospital to deal with the coronavirus disease. (Photo by Luay Sababa/Xinhua/IANS)

A two-day conference organised by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has been postponed due to the coronavirus threat. According to the schedule, the conference, which had seminars on a range of security issues in Asia, was to be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"Due to the prevailing global situation with regard to COVID-19, it has been decided to postpone the 21st Asian Security Conference (ASC) to a later date. Fresh dates for the Conference will be conveyed in due course," the IDSA said in an email to the participants.

The conference organised by IDSA, now rechristened Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, was to be attended by participants from countries such as the US, Russia, Australia, Vietnam, Sweden, Belgium, Japan and the UK.

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Asian Security Conference postponed amid coronavirus threat