Aukmin meeting wraps up in Sydney

Australian and British foreign and defence ministers have discussed the mission in
Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process and counter-terrorism at a meeting in
Sydney.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defence Minister Stephen Smith met with British
Foreign Secretary William Hague and Defence Secretary Liam Fox in Sydney on Tuesday
for the third Australia-UK ministerial talks, known as AUKMIN.
Mr Rudd said the discussions had been "good and substantial".
Mr Rudd said the Australia-UK relationship was based on more than "idle sentiment".
"This relationship is based on common values, common interests and common sense," he
said.
The leaders agreed that AUKMIN meetings would now occur annually, Mr Rudd said.
The leaders also agreed on a common work program for the future that reflected
Tuesday's discussions, Mr Rudd said.
The program covered the Asia-Pacific regional architecture, both countries'
engagements in Afghanistan and Pakistan, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, Middle
East peace and Southern Sudan's independence vote.
"From Australia's point of view the United Kingdom is an important partner
intrinsically," he said.
"The UK is the sixth largest economy in the world, the UK is a member permanently so
of the UN Security Council, the UK together with ourselves are members of the G20.
"And also we are common members of the Commonwealth which will meet here in
Australia in Perth at year's end."
The bilateral economic, defence, security and intelligence relationships were also
vital to Australia's national interests, Mr Rudd said.
Mr Hague said it was hard to believe that a British foreign secretary had not
visited Australia for more than 17 years.
"This visit should be taken as a clear signal of the determination of our coalition
government in Britain not just to reach out to new allies but to renew and deepen
relations with closest friends," Mr Hague told reporters.
"We've had an excellent round of talks today - sufficiently excellent that we have
agreed to do this on an annual basis."
Mr Smith described the talks as productive.
"We obviously had an extensive conversation about Afghanistan and the difficulties
we face in Afghanistan, and also the difficulties on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border
area.
"And indeed the challenges that Pakistan itself faces," Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said Australia would begin the "transition out" of Afghanistan in 2014.
"We are confident that we continue to be on track for a transition to Afghan-led
responsibility for security matters by 2014 in Oruzgan province," he said.
Mr Hague agreed.
"By 2014 the Afghan national security forces should be able to lead and sustain
their own operations throughout the country," he said.
Asked if he believed Australia should send more troops to Afghanistan, Dr Fox said
the focus should be on more manpower for training.
"It's quite clear that we're gradually going to move away from the combat role that
we've had into a training mission," Dr Fox said.
New strategic and security challenges had emerged since 2008's AUKMIN meeting, Mr
Smith said.
"And we had very productive discussions about cyberspace and very productive
discussions about space and space awareness.
"And on both fronts we have agreed to work much more closely together."
Mr Smith said he and Dr Fox would travel to Adelaide on Wednesday for further
discussions on defence science, technology and procurement.
Mr Rudd and Mr Hague were also asked whether they believed the United States could
maintain its pre-eminent role in Asia given the rise of China.
"The US today remains the world's largest economy, and by a very significant
margin," Mr Rudd said.
"That will continue for at least the decade ahead.
"Secondly in terms of absolute military power the United States is the absolute
dominant power globally by a country mile...
"I detect no sign whatsoever from our friends in the United States that you will see
a diminution in the capacity of the United States to deploy force within the Asia
Pacific region," he said.
Mr Hague concurred.
"I don't think there will be any diminution in the commitment of the United States
in the Asia Pacific region.
"Certainly the diplomatic presence and commitment of the US is being intensified."
British ministerial and diplomatic presence in the region would intensify in the
coming years too, Mr Hague said.
The foreign ministers were also asked about the potential for fresh hostilities on
the Korean Peninsula in 2011.
Mr Rudd said Australia welcomed a recent relaxation in tensions between North and
South Korea.
"But as someone who's been observing the DPRK's behaviour for the last quarter of a
century my single message to the international community is: don't hold your breath.
"The bottom line is the regime in Pyongyang is inherently destabilising for the
region because of its provocative actions against the south."
China had a vital role to play in influencing North Korea's behaviour, Mr Rudd said.
"It is important for China to play a continuing and increasingly strong role in
causing Pyongyang, and the military authorities in Pyongyang in particular, to
adhere to international norms of security policy behaviour."
Mr Hague agreed.
"The way to reduce the risks is for North Korea to desist from its proliferation
activities, to refrain from the provocative kind of actions that we say occurred
during the course of 2010," he said.



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