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Gates leaves for Asia for security talks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-28 15:12

WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates left on Wednesday for Singapore to attend a two-day security talks with the regional defense and other senior officials.

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According to the Pentagon, the defense chief would attend the Asia Security Summit, or the "Shangri-La Dialogue," which is sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

During the meeting starting May 30, Gates would sit down with the defense ministers from both the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, and also briefly meet with military officials from China, the defense department said.

The dialogue came after the DPRK reported nuclear and missile tests last week.

"We're looking to have a dialogue with our allies and our friends and work jointly together on what the proper responses should be," said a defense official in the Pentagon press release." We want to work with Asia on Asia's problems."

The official who spoke on anonymity also said that Gates would discuss a broad set of security issues and promise continued support from the new US administration.

"We're committed to the region, even though there is a lot of other stuff going on," the defense official said. "The United States is going to continue to be focused on Asia."