Australia: China's Military Modernization Necessary

2007-09-28 17:09:55 Xinhua

Australia recognizes the need for China to increase its spending in defense capability and modernizing its military capability at the time China's economic prosperity is growing, Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said Friday.

He was speaking at the welcoming ceremony for two Chinese warships, guided missile destroyer "Harbin" and fuel tanker "Hongze Lake," which arrived in Sydney earlier for a visit.

The two warships with 483 crew members will join Australia and New Zealand navies in the first maritime exercises to be staged by the three countries early next month.

The three navies will drill on communications, fleet formation, vessel supply, and search-and-rescue during the two-day drill on the sea off Sydney.

Nelson described the visit as very important at the time the two countries are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Both Australia and China have common interest in and commitment to peace and security in the region, so the two countries need to develop relations not only in areas of economy, culture and education, but also defense ties, he said.

Nelson also said he expected more military exchanges and increased joint exercises and operations with China.

"At this stage I would expect that primarily we would be looking at naval exercises but we will also be having discussions between our air force and obviously our army," Nelson told reporters.

"Some of those discussion have already commenced," he added.