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Rudd 'lacked emphasis on ASEAN' in East Asia speech

Posted March 27, 2008 20:45:00

Indonesian Defence Minister Dr Juwono Sudarsono has commented on the lack of any detailed discussion on Indonesia during Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's speech at the East Asia Forum last night.

Speaking on foreign policy, Mr Rudd reminisced about his time as a diplomat in China and discussed his plans for meetings with the Chinese leadership next month.

Dr Sudarsono was in Canberra today for a meeting with the Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

He says he understands that Australia's relationship with China is important.

"I've got to feel that last night something was missing," he said.

"There was no mention about ASEAN [Association of South-East Asian Nations] and Australia and less emphasis on Indonesia and Australia and we accept that.

"This is the mere fact of strategic and economic engagement between two power houses."

Tags: federal-government, foreign-affairs, world-politics, australia, indonesia

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