U.S. – Australia Relations
Confirmation of United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Canberra — 22 January 2009
I [the Hon Stephen Smith MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs] warmly welcome the confirmation today, Australia time, in Washington of Ms Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State of the United States of America.
Secretary Clinton brings a wealth of experience, expertise and dedication to the position.
Australia could have no better partner than Secretary Clinton in advancing the causes of peace and prosperity in our own region and globally in the years ahead.
I look forward to working closely with Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration on the important foreign policy challenges and opportunities facing our two nations.
Australia and the United States are key security and economic partners both in the Asia Pacific region and globally. We have a close and productive relationship across all areas of mutual endeavour.
Complementing this partnership, we enjoy a successful and dynamic bilateral economic and investment relationship, with the United State being the largest single investor in Australia.
The Australia-United States Alliance, which now spans some 60 years, is indispensable to Australia’s strategic, defence and security arrangements. Australia and the United States share a deep-seated commitment to freedom and democracy. The ongoing engagement by the United States with the Asia-Pacific remains vitally important to stability and prosperity in the region.
The annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) is the key Ministerial forum for advancing the strategic, defence and security matters fundamental to the Alliance and our broader relationship.
I hope our first AUSMIN with Secretary Clinton, along with our colleagues Minister of Defence Joel Fitzgibbon and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, can take place as soon as practicable this year.
Original document from www.foreignminister.gov.au.
Last update: Tuesday, 15 December 2009 GMT+1100
