For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 10, 2001
Joint Statement Between the United States of America and Australia
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister John Howard today reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the bilateral relationship between Australia and the United States, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries. The President and the Prime Minister expressed the conviction that the alliance has been a pillar of stability in the Asia-Pacific region and has made an essential contribution to global peace and security over the past half century. The Prime Minister welcomed the clear commitments expressed by the President to continued active U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. They agreed the U.S. presence in the region helped contribute to the stability that was essential to ensure economic growth and greater prosperity for all countries in the Asia Pacific.
President Bush and Prime Minister Howard
discussed a broad range of regional and global security
issues. Both underscored the importance of Indonesia's
successful democratic transition and expressed support for Indonesia's
territorial integrity. Noting the positive steps President
Megawati and her team have taken to promote policy reform and national
unity, President Bush and Prime Minister Howard reaffirmed their
support for the new government's efforts to build a stable, united,
democratic and prosperous Indonesia. The two leaders
welcomed the peaceful election in East Timor and emphasized the
importance of continued international support and assistance, including
through the United Nations, to ensure a successful transition to a
stable, viable and independent state.
The President and the Prime Minister
agreed that the economic transformation underway in China will have a
major impact on the region and the world. The President and
the Prime Minister welcomed the prospect of China's accession to the
WTO and affirmed their desire to see China take up a constructive role
as a full member of the international community. In this
context, they reaffirmed the importance of China's observance of its
non-proliferation undertakings and underlined their close interest in
China's respect for human rights. The President and the
Prime Minister agreed that Japan makes an important contribution to
regional stability, emphasized the importance of Prime Minister
Koizumi's reform initiatives, and expressed optimism that continued
reform will produce significant benefits over time for the people of
Japan and for the global economy. On the Korean Peninsula,
President Bush and Prime Minister Howard reiterated their strong
support for renewed North-South engagement. The Prime
Minister welcomed the United States' offer of dialogue to North Korea
following the Administration's policy review and encouraged North Korea
to respond positively. The two leaders welcomed the growing
opportunities for political, commercial and security cooperation with
India.
President Bush and Prime Minister Howard
expressed shared concern about the threat to global stability posed by
ballistic missile proliferation and weapons of mass destruction and
increasingly capable ballistic missiles as a means of
delivery. They agreed on the need for a comprehensive
approach to counter these threats, including enhanced non-proliferation
and counter- proliferation measures as well as continued nuclear arms
reductions. They also agreed that missile defense could play
a role in strengthening deterrence and stability as part of this
comprehensive approach. The Prime Minister looked forward to
further consultation with the United States on these issues
and welcomed the Administration's active dialogue on the
issue with allies as well as Russia and China.
The President and the Prime Minister
resolved to work together closely to expand trade globally, regionally
and bilaterally. They agreed that launching a new global
trade round in Doha is a top trade priority for both
nations. They emphasized that agriculture must be a core
element of the next trade round in order to level the playing
field. They confirmed their commitment to achieve open
markets in the Asia-Pacific region, including using APEC's full
potential more effectively. The President and the Prime
Minister reaffirmed their commitment to enhance their already close
economic relationship, including the possibility of a bilateral free
trade agreement (FTA). They discussed the contribution an
FTA could make to their shared global and regional trade
objectives. They noted the strong trade and investment flows
between the United States and Australia and the spur an agreement could
give to further growth. They asked their trade ministers to
report back to them before the end of the year on how to advance the
proposal. The President noted the importance of consulting
with Congress and other interested parties in deciding the
Administration's position on the FTA.
President Bush and Prime Minister Howard
agreed that climate change poses a serious long-term
challenge. The President and the Prime Minister recognized
that climate change is a global issue requiring a global approach and
expressed their commitment to develop an effective and science-based
response.
The President and the Prime Minister
greatly enjoyed their discussions, which were characterized by unusual
warmth and candor. They believe the meeting strengthened
their personal partnership and the partnership between their two
nations. The goodwill generated today will be valuable in
moving forward on their common agendas.
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