High level talks July 24, 2000 The US Defense Secretary, Mr William Cohen, has visited Australia for high-level talks with Australia's Defence Minister, Mr John Moore. Mr Cohen arrived on July 15, leaving two days later. During the visit Mr Moore and Mr Cohen had wide-ranging discussions on regional security issues and bilateral issues including access to US technology and the Australian Government's Defence White Paper. There was also a signing of a Statement of Principles and a media conference at the Navy's Maritime Headquarters in Sydney. Mr Cohen praised the role Australia and the ADF played in East Timor. He also welcomed the move by the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, in launching public debate on defence policy and his renewed promise that military spending would rise in next year's Budget. Before arriving in Australia Mr Cohen and a US military delegation had visited China, marking a return to normal military ties with that country after relations had cooled following the NATO aircraft bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in the war against Yugoslavia in 1999. While in China Mr Cohen held talks with Chinese officials on Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, missile defence systems and arms control. Before leaving Australia Mr Cohen inspected an ADF honour guard.