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Secretary had already been to Washington.
The Foreign Secretary was also visiting Russia, Korea, Indonesia and Japan. Indonesia was a good friend and an important country. The Batam development was highly imaginative and successful. Would the concept spread? GCT observed that sub-regional triangular co-operation was catching on. But there must always be a dynamo in the relationship. (Singapore in the case of the Batam partnership with Indonesia.)
12. Mr Goodlad hoped that GCT would come to Europe for a bilateral visit before long. GCT hoped to do so in 1994. was due to visit China and Japan in April 1993; then CHOGM; then Korea later in the year. That took care of trips in 1993. He had thought of going on to Western Europe after CHOGM but decided it would be too long a trip overall.
Defence Relations
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13. GCT asked if the Minister was content with the current state of defence relations. Mr Goodlad said he was. The FPDA was appropriate to its task. GCT agreed. But if possible, the defence establishment should be encouraged to He play a more active part occasionally in FPDA exercises. understood that major activity was prohibited by distance, but any naval vessels in the area should consider stopping off in Singapore. Mr Goodlad said that the Defence Minister would visit Singapore in May. The Lord Mayor of London and other Ministers would also visit this year. GCT said that Singapore would mind if British Ministers did not visit. Mr Goodlad wondered whether Singapore thought it desirable that Brunei should join the FPDA. GCT thought it would be advantageous to Brunei. But they were very sensitive about Indonesian sentiment. Would the British military presence there be removed after 1998? Britain must give Brunei an assurance that the military must remain. Mr Goodlad said that Britain might do so if Brunei continued to pay! said that the Bruneians put more value on their agreement with the UK than on the FPDA. But if the UK was going to pull out of Brunei, sooner or later the Bruneians must join. The reasons for a British reduction in Brunei were compelling. At the same time the Indonesians were much more mature and the FPDA was not a threat against Indonesia: Singapore was therefore encouraging Brunei to join.
GCT
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