SINGAPORE - The defence chiefs of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member countries reaffirmed their commitment to the grouping at a conference on Wednesday (Oct 5).

The defence chiefs from Singapore, Malaysia, Britain, Australia and New Zealand also emphasised the important role that the FPDA plays in enhancing regional cooperation and security, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

The chiefs are in Singapore from Oct 4-6 for the 17th FPDA Defence Chiefs' Conference (FDCC).

At the conference, they also discussed and issued the FPDA Exercise Concept Directive, as they have done in previous years. It guides the development of future FPDA exercises and activities to strengthen inter-operability and military cooperation between the armed forces of the five member nations.

Chaired by Singapore's Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Lieutenant-General (LG) Perry Lim, the conference was attended by Australia's CDF, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin; New Zealand's CDF, LG Timothy Keating; the United Kingdom's Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Gordon Messenger; and Malaysia's Joint Force Commander, LG Dato' Fadzil Bin Mokhtar.

The FDCC, which is hosted alternately by Malaysia and Singapore, is the highest military professional forum of the FPDA and serves as a platform for dialogue and exchange of views among the defence chiefs.

This year also marks the 45th anniversary of the FPDA. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the defence chiefs will attend a celebratory dinner on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday (Oct 6), they will visit the Kranji War Memorial, attend the opening ceremony of Exercise Bersama Lima at Changi Naval Base and attend a breakfast hosted by Singapore's Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.