[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 43 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Pages 1440-1441]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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

[[Page 1441]]

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.