Australia, S'pore call for stable U.S.-China ties<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore and Australia on Wednesday called
\nfor stable ties between China and the United States, saying these
\nwere vital to stability in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement at the end of a two-day meeting of their
\ndefence, foreign and trade ministers, the allies also noted the
\ncontribution of the continued U.S. presence to regional
\nstability.<\/p>\n
They agreed to promote existing regional mechanisms for dialog
\non security issues such as the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) Regional Forum to be held in Hanoi next month.<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Trade Minister
\nMark Vaile and Defense Minister Peter Reith met in Canberra with
\nSingapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar, Trade Minister George
\nYeo and Second Defense Minister Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers exchanged views on a wide range of
\ninternational and regional issues. They noted the fundamental
\ncontribution of the U.S. presence to regional stability,\" the
\nstatement issued in Singapore said.<\/p>\n
\"They underlined the importance of stable U.S.-China relations
\nto the region,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Relations between the U.S. administration of President George
\nW. Bush and China plunged following the April 1 collision between
\na U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet.<\/p>\n
The two sides have also been at odds over a host of other
\nissues such as arms sales to Taiwan, human rights, detention of
\nChinese-American academics and U.S. plans to deploy a missile
\nshield.<\/p>\n
The ministers \"reaffirmed the fundamental importance\" of ties
\nbetween Australia and Singapore and agreed to work closely on
\nissues of mutual interest, including trade, regional security and
\ndefense.<\/p>\n
They welcomed progress in talks for an Australia-Singapore
\nfree trade agreement and encouraged their negotiators to conclude
\na pact by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
The ministers also agreed to help draw up a framework to link
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade
\nArea with the Closer Economic Relations alliance between
\nAustralia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Singapore is a key member of ASEAN, along with Brunei,
\nCambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
\nThailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The top-level meeting was held under the Singapore-Australia
\njoint ministerial committee, which last met in Singapore in
\nFebruary 1999.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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