Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer Wednesday said that Australia would likely conduct joint training operations with Philippine Armed Forces.
After attending the Post Ministerial Conference between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia held here Wednesday morning, Downer said Australia is ready to implement the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) which it signed with the Philippines in June this year.
The agreement, the second of its kind in the Philippines following that with the United States, is expected to enhance defense and counter-terrorism capabilities of both countries, aside from the conduct of education and training, capacity- building, and humanitarian and disaster relief.
Under the agreement, the Australian government also pledged to provide grants for military training in an attempt to upgrade the capability of the Filipino soldiers.
The SOVFA still has to be ratified by both the Australian House of Parliament and the Philippine Senate.
Source: Xinhua
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