US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on August 26 that his countrywill continue the re-balancing of its relationship in Asia-Pacificregion.
The Defence Secretary told the press after meetingwith Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta that theregion is important for the future of the US as Washington hasbuilt friendship and partnership for years.
"We haverelationships, we have alliances, we have interests all over the globe.But this area is particularly important to the future of the US ," hesaid.
This rebalance is not just about security or enhancingmilitary relationship but also focuses on the diplomatic, economic,trade, cultural and educational ties, said Hagel.
Following the meeting with President Yudhoyono, the US Defence Secretaryheld talks with his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro.
They focused on issues relating to regional and global security,including the 2013 Counter Terrorism Exercise, which will be co-chairedby Indonesia and the US this year with the participation of troopsfrom the 10 ASEAN member countries and eight dialogue partners.
Indonesia’s purchase of weapons from the US and cooperationprogrammes on military personnel training were also on table.
Indonesia is the second leg of his ten-day tourof four Southeast Asian nations, which also brings him to Malaysia ,Brunei and the Philippines.
In Malaysia ,on August 25, Hagel held talks with his Malaysian counterpartHishamuddin Hussein, during which the two sides committed to furtherstrengthening military relations towards more cooperation fields.
The US Defence Secretary is scheduledto arrive in Brunei on August 27 to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the second ADMM Plus before concluding histour of Southeast Asia with a visit to the Philippines on August 29.-VNA
The Defence Secretary told the press after meetingwith Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta that theregion is important for the future of the US as Washington hasbuilt friendship and partnership for years.
"We haverelationships, we have alliances, we have interests all over the globe.But this area is particularly important to the future of the US ," hesaid.
This rebalance is not just about security or enhancingmilitary relationship but also focuses on the diplomatic, economic,trade, cultural and educational ties, said Hagel.
Following the meeting with President Yudhoyono, the US Defence Secretaryheld talks with his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro.
They focused on issues relating to regional and global security,including the 2013 Counter Terrorism Exercise, which will be co-chairedby Indonesia and the US this year with the participation of troopsfrom the 10 ASEAN member countries and eight dialogue partners.
Indonesia’s purchase of weapons from the US and cooperationprogrammes on military personnel training were also on table.
Indonesia is the second leg of his ten-day tourof four Southeast Asian nations, which also brings him to Malaysia ,Brunei and the Philippines.
In Malaysia ,on August 25, Hagel held talks with his Malaysian counterpartHishamuddin Hussein, during which the two sides committed to furtherstrengthening military relations towards more cooperation fields.
The US Defence Secretary is scheduledto arrive in Brunei on August 27 to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the second ADMM Plus before concluding histour of Southeast Asia with a visit to the Philippines on August 29.-VNA
