Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said here on Sunday that his country's alliance with the United States will continue to serve both countries under the U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's new administration.
Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he also expected the two countries to put a greater emphasis on dialogue and multilateralism when Obama takes office in January next year.
"What we've always known as a Labor party and what we apply in government is that when it comes to foreign policy decisions, we put Australia's national interests first," he said.
Smith also stressed that it was in Australia's national interest to continue its alliance with the United States.
When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke with president-elect Obama on Friday, both of them started by confirming their commitments to the alliance, Smith said.
"The alliance is an indispensable, enduring feature of our defense and security and strategic arrangements. It's served both Australia and the United States well and it transcends governments here and administrations there, so in the past, whether it's been Labor or Liberal here, Democratic or Republican there, the alliance has served both countries well," Smith added.
He also hoped that the United States could continue to be actively engaged in the Asia-Pacific region, as economic, strategic and political influences shift to the region.
Source:Xinhua
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