SYDNEY (AFP) -
Singapore
will invest up to US$1.67 billion in Australia's defence infrastructure
and hike troop numbers it sends for training, Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull said Friday.
The new agreement also includes commitments
to open markets and trade and increase collaboration in science and
research, he said, adding it would create thousands of jobs in northern
Australia.
"We will jointly develop military training facilities
in northern Queensland which will be fully funded by Singapore," the
prime minister told reporters.
"Singapore will invest up to
two-and-a-quarter billion dollars (US$1.67 billion) in the expansion of
two of our most important military training facilities," he said, naming
Shoalwater Bay and Townsville.
Turnbull said upgrading the Free
Trade Agreement between the countries would make it much easier for
Australians to live and work in Singapore.
"This is a great day
for the Australian Singapore relationship," he said, dismissing concerns
that deeper ties between Canberra and Singapore could rankle China.
Some
6,600 Singaporean troops already train each year in northern Australia.
Under the new deal this will climb to 14,000, staying for 18 weeks
instead of the current six, trade envoy Andrew Robb said.
Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership (CSP) signed with Canberra last year was "an ambitious
package covering many aspects of our relationship".
"Our two
countries are politically like-minded, strategically aligned and
economically complementary. We have much to gain by working closely
together," he said in a statement.
Singapore is Australia's fifth-largest trading partner, with gold and crude petroleum key exports.
As
it looks to Asian markets for growth, Australia will encourage greater
collaboration in research with Singapore and locate one of its five
start-up "landing pads" in the city state to promote innovation and
entrepreneurship.
© 2016 AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment