[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 37 (Monday, September 17, 2001)]
[Pages 1295-1297]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Joint Statement Between the United States of America and Australia
September 10, 2001
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
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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.
Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
this joint statement.
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