S'PORE, AUSTRALIA TO HOLD ANNUAL DEFENCE DIALOGUE

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith unveiled on 23 Mar in Perth, Australia, that they had agreed to an annual Singapore-Australia defence ministers' dialogue, formalising the close bilateral interactions between the two countries at the defence ministers' level.

The ministers had arrived at the agreement at a bilateral meeting held in Canberra on 22 Mar as part of Dr Ng's two day visit which was his first to Australia as defence minister. While in Canberra, he also called on Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr and Shadow Minister for Defence David Johnston.

Speaking at a doorstop interview, the ministers reaffirmed the close and longstanding defence ties that the two countries share. Dr Ng noted that the two countries "are working towards closer defence ties (and) doing more together" and Mr Smith added that the annual defence ministers' dialogue is "an important development formalising the regular contact" at the defence ministers' level.

Currently, both Ministers meet regularly, including at multilateral forums such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements, Shangri-La Dialogue, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.

Singapore and Australia share a long history of partnership, which includes areas like defence, trade and investment as well as education. Defence continues to be a key pillar in the bilateral relationship and is underscored by the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation which was signed at the Prime Minister-level in August 2008. The pact articulated the principles of the Singapore-Australia defence partnership and the key areas of defence cooperation.

The Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force continue to expand relations, with personnel interacting regularly through exercises, visits, professional exchanges and military courses. Both armed forces have also had close operational cooperation in East Timor and are currently partnering each other in multinational counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

Dr Ng was in Perth on Mr Smith's invitation, where he visited the Australian Special Air Service Regiment at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) flying training detachment - 130 Squadron - at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce. The squadron is part of the RSAF's Flying Training Institute located there which conducts the nine-month Basic Wings Course for RSAF pilot trainees. The training course, which comprises lectures, simulator training and flying on the Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft, equips pilot trainees with the knowledge and skills of basic flying before they progress to advanced pilot training.

During the visit, Dr Ng viewed a static display of the Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft and tried out a flight simulator and training systems that the squadron uses to develop trainee pilots' situational awareness and flying aptitude. Dr Ng also met the pilot trainees as well as RSAF personnel and their families based there.