AUSTRALIA MOVING TO ENHANCE TIES WITH MALAYSIA

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, July 6 (Bernama) -- Australia is moving to improve ties with
Malaysia even further, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

Speaking ahead of his visit to Malaysia Monday, Smith said he wanted to
underline the importance of links with a close neighbour.

"The relationship in recent historical terms has had its moments," he told
the Nine TV Network Sunday.

"We want to put that and have put that behind us but it is, we think, open
to both Australia and Malaysia to enhance and further entrench a very good
relationship."

Smith said he believed much more could be done with Malaysia both in the
region and internationally.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Smith are both visiting Malaysia Monday.

Rudd will be on a six-day foreign trip with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur where
he will hold his first face-to-face talks with new Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak.

Talks are likely to include discussion on ways to curb people smuggling, the
impact of the global recession on the region and Rudd's campaign for a new
Asia-Pacific community.

Smith said it was unusual for both the prime minister and the foreign
minister to visit simultaneously.

"But we want to underline the importance of the relationship we have with
Malaysia. It has of course in the recent historical period had its moments," he
said.

"But we have a much better relationship with Malaysia now but we want to
reinforce and underline that, Malaysia has historically been a very important
partner with Australia."

Smith said this would be his first official visit to Malaysia and first
meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

"Mr Anifah and I will hold the inaugural Australia-Malaysia Foreign
Ministers' Meeting. Australia and Malaysia will hold the meeting regularly. It
will serve as the principal ministerial forum for the bilateral relationship,"
he said in a statement.

Smith said he and Anifah would cover a range of regional and global issues,
including security developments in the region, the continuing need for close
cooperation in response to the global recession, and the importance of regional
institutions like Asean and the East Asia Summit to these interests.
-- BERNAMA