Melbourne, Australia (AHN) – As she prepared to meet Sunday with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for a review of U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed willingness to expand Australia’s military partnership with the U.S. in the region.

In an interview with Australia’s Nine Network, Gillard said her talks with Clinton would involve further joint military exercises and collaboration between Australia and the U.S., as the matter was “in the national interest.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop concurred, telling the same network, “I think every port city in Australia, subject to closer consultation, would be delighted to have more American engagement in our port cities.”

Clinton is also scheduled to join on Monday U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ consultation meeting at Victoria’s Government House where the main topic will be China’s rise as a superpower and of the strategic presence of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region.

Clinton also praised Sunday peacekeeping efforts of Australia, Malaysia and Singapore in the Asia-Pacific region. In line with this, Australia’s Defense Minister, Stephen Smith, will discuss with Gates Australia’s plan to purchase from the U.S. between 14 and 100 F35 joint strike planes beginning in 2017.

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