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.