Singapore, Australia bolster defence cooperation

Singaporean Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen (right) and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne shake hand while meeting in Sydney. (Source: MINDEF)

Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen on November 19 said Singapore and Australia are committed to increasing the bilateral defence relationship on the basis of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the meeting with Australian Minister of Defence Marise Payne in Sydney during his visit to Australia, Minister Ng Eng Hen affirmed Singapore’s commitment in sharing new initiatives as well as boosting cooperation in training.

The new initiatives in the two countries’ defence cooperation include intensifying and improving cooperation in defence training; exchanging military and civil delegations; boosting cooperation in fighting terrorism; sharing information in the fields of shared interest; implementing new initiatives according to the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation in science and technology.

The two sides also discussed regional and global security and recognised the important role of information-sharing in the fight against extreme terrorism as well as the protection of home security in each country.-VNA