Delegations from over 71 countries will attend an annual defence seminar in Sri Lanka this week, the Sri Lankan army said on Tuesday.

The 6th "Colombo Defence Seminar - 2016" will take place in the capital on Thursday and Friday with the participation of 800 guests, including 125 foreigners from 71 countries.

Themed "Soft Power and its Influence on Global Issues" in the context of fast waning "hard power" at global level, this year's sessions are aimed at providing a platform to global experts to identify and discuss means of achieving foreign policy frameworks and perspectives of nation states through which horizons of professional knowledge of army personnel could be expanded to suit fast changing global trends.

This year's sessions are segmented into nine sessions under sub themes such as "Concept of Power", "Soft Power and Varied Impacts", "Soft Power Peace Building and Armed Forces" and "Influence of Soft Power on Global Issues".

In addition, a separate expert panel, including professors, security and military experts and administrative officers at foreign and national level would contribute to the session.

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi and Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the army are scheduled to deliver the keynote address and introductory remarks respectively during the inaugural sessions on the first day.

(Xinhua)