Australia, S'pore call for stable U.S.-China ties

Australia, S'pore call for stable U.S.-China ties

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore and Australia on Wednesday called
for stable ties between China and the United States, saying these
were vital to stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a joint statement at the end of a two-day meeting of their
defence, foreign and trade ministers, the allies also noted the
contribution of the continued U.S. presence to regional
stability.

They agreed to promote existing regional mechanisms for dialog
on security issues such as the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum to be held in Hanoi next month.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Trade Minister
Mark Vaile and Defense Minister Peter Reith met in Canberra with
Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar, Trade Minister George
Yeo and Second Defense Minister Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean.

"The ministers exchanged views on a wide range of
international and regional issues. They noted the fundamental
contribution of the U.S. presence to regional stability," the
statement issued in Singapore said.

"They underlined the importance of stable U.S.-China relations
to the region," it said.

Relations between the U.S. administration of President George
W. Bush and China plunged following the April 1 collision between
a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet.

The two sides have also been at odds over a host of other
issues such as arms sales to Taiwan, human rights, detention of
Chinese-American academics and U.S. plans to deploy a missile
shield.

The ministers "reaffirmed the fundamental importance" of ties
between Australia and Singapore and agreed to work closely on
issues of mutual interest, including trade, regional security and
defense.

They welcomed progress in talks for an Australia-Singapore
free trade agreement and encouraged their negotiators to conclude
a pact by the end of the year.

The ministers also agreed to help draw up a framework to link
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade
Area with the Closer Economic Relations alliance between
Australia and New Zealand.

Singapore is a key member of ASEAN, along with Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam.

The top-level meeting was held under the Singapore-Australia
joint ministerial committee, which last met in Singapore in
February 1999.