SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- It is essential for the United States and
China to find opportunities to cooperate in every possible area, including
maintaining a defense relationship, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said
here on Saturday.
Speaking at the 2009 Asian security summit, known as the Shangri-La
Dialogue, Gates said that the United States is working with China on common
challenges, from economic matters to security issues such as regional areas of
tension, counter terrorism, non-proliferation, energy security, piracy and
disaster relief.
Noting the importance of a defense relationship marked by consistent and
open channels of communication and contact, Gates said that it is essential for
the United States and China to be transparent to each other and the rest of the
world about the strategic goals, political intentions and military development.
Speaking on the United States' engagement in Asia, Gates said that the
United States has welcomed Asia's rise over the last few decades.
"Our commitment to the region is just as strong today as it has ever been,
if not stronger since our own prosperity is increasingly linked with yours."
Gates said.
He said that the U.S approach to Asia in recent years and in the future is
"a very real shift" that reflects new thinking in U.S. defense strategy, which
"places greater emphasis on building the capacity of its partners to better
defend themselves."
"Moving forward, we would like to see a good deal more cooperation among
our allies and security partners, more multilateral ties in addition to hubs and
spokes," Gates said.
Gates is in Singapore for the three-day Asia Security Summit, organized by
the London International Institute for Strategic Studies. The summit brings
together about 22 ministerial-level guests, along with parliamentarians,
military leaders and security experts from more than 27 countries and regions
for discussions on regional security issues and defense cooperation.
Special
Report: 30th Anniversary of Sino-U.S. Diplomatic
Relations
