    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 21, 2003]
    [Pages 1365-1366]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of
    Singapore
    October 21, 2003

        Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and President
    George W. Bush held discussions on a broad range of issues during
    President Bush's first official visit to Singapore. This visit builds
    upon the strong and multi-faceted U.S.-Singapore partnership, which saw
    the signing of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement earlier this
    year, and on a history of cooperation, congruent interests, and shared
    perspectives.
        President Bush and Prime Minister Goh
    reviewed recent developments in Southeast Asia and regional efforts in
    the war against terrorism. They welcomed the recent arrest of Riduan
    Isamuddin (also known as Hambali) and the conviction of key perpetrators
    of the Bali bombings. They recognized that much headway had been made in
    disrupting terrorist networks, but agreed that more needed to be done
    and that the campaign against terrorism required a sustained long-term
    effort. The two leaders pledged to continue to work closely, both
    bilaterally and through multilateral institutions such as ASEAN, APEC,
    and the UN, to defeat terrorism.
        The Prime Minister and the President also
    discussed the situation in Iraq. They expressed hope for Iraq's early
    reintegration into the global community. They welcomed the positive
    steps taken by the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi
    Governing Council, in particular the new investment laws passed to
    restore international investor confidence in the country. President Bush
    expressed gratitude for Singapore's contribution toward Iraq's
    reconstruction and commended the Singapore police training contingent's
    efforts to help train the Iraqi police to protect critical
    installations.
        The President and the Prime Minister
    reaffirmed the need for a strong U.S. security presence in Asia, which
    continues to be vital for the peace and stability of the region.
    President Bush recognized the important role played by Singapore as a
    major security cooperation partner and expressed appreciation for
    Singapore's support for the U.S. as reflected in the 1990 Memorandum of
    Understanding between the U.S. and Singapore. Both leaders expressed
    concern over the emergence of new threats to global peace and stability
    such as terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
    agreed that such threats required even closer cooperation between the
    U.S. and Singapore.
        To this end, Prime Minister Goh and
    President Bush agreed that the United States and Singapore would enter
    into negotiations for a Framework Agreement for the Promotion of a
    Strategic Cooperation Partnership in Defense and Security. This
    strategic framework agreement will expand

    [[Page 1366]]

    upon the scope of current bilateral cooperation in areas of defense and
    security such as counterterrorism, counterproliferation of weapons of
    mass destruction, joint military exercises and training, policy
    dialogues, and defense technology. Both leaders expressed the desire to
    see this Framework Agreement implemented as soon as possible.
        President Bush and Prime Minister Goh
    emphasized the value of collaborative efforts to respond to new health
    threats, including emerging diseases and use of biological agents by
    terrorists. In this regard, both leaders were pleased to endorse the
    Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on collaboration recently concluded
    between the United States Department of Health and Human Services and
    the Singapore Ministry of Health. The MOU will establish the Regional
    Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI) Center. Based in Singapore's newly
    opened Biopolis, the REDI Center will facilitate the exchange of
    information and expertise on surveillance; prevention and control of,
    and research on, communicable and non-communicable diseases; and on
    bioterrorism concerns. The REDI Center will also make its research,
    training, and surveillance facilities available to other economies in
    the Asia-Pacific region, and President Bush and Prime Minister Goh
    welcomed the endorsement of the Center by APEC Leaders at their meeting
    in Bangkok. In a broader context, the MOU will enhance and expand
    bilateral cooperative efforts in health and medical sciences, and on
    health security issues.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.