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Assistant Minister for Defence David Fawcett met with the Singapore high commissioner, Kwok Fook Seng, to discuss the ongoing and close defence relationship between Australia and Singapore.
Australia and Singapore enjoy a long history of bilateral and multilateral defence co-operation, through organisations including the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
Senator Fawcett said the meeting with Kwok was an opportunity to reinforce the progress made in the Australia-Singapore defence relationship in recent years, including the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
"High commissioner Kwok and I discussed the significant progress of the Australia‑Singapore Military Training Initiative, which provides enhanced training access for Singaporean Armed Forces in central and north Queensland," Senator Fawcett said.
The Australia-Singapore CSP provides for the joint development of military training areas and facilities in Australia and Singapore to continue to exploit the benefits derived from the development of Exercise TRIDENT as the signature bilateral joint military exercise.
The CSP will enable Australia and Singapore to work together on defence science and technology, in areas including combat systems/command, control, communications, computers and intelligence integration; and cognitive/human systems integration.
Senator Fawcett said, "Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between Singapore and Australia in 2015, our countries have committed to deepening and growing our defence ties.
"I look forward to exploring further opportunities for collaboration under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2019, including in science and technology and personnel exchanges."
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