堪培拉，澳大利亚-澳大利亚和韩国周一签署了一项7.2亿美元的国防协议，韩国总统文在寅成为第一位访问澳大利亚的外国领导人澳大利亚自从疫情战争开始。

该交易价值约10亿澳元，韩国国防公司韩华将为澳大利亚军队提供火炮武器、补给车辆和雷达。

这是澳大利亚和一个亚洲国家签订的最大的国防合同，发生在澳大利亚和中国紧张关系加剧的时候中国。澳大利亚最近宣布了一项与美国和英国合作建造核动力潜艇的协议，中国对此表示强烈谴责。

穆恩在访问期间会见了澳大利亚总理斯科特·莫里森，两位领导人同意将两国之间的正式关系升级为“全面战略伙伴关系”

两位领导人还表示，他们将共同开发包括氢在内的清洁能源技术，并促进澳大利亚丰富的关键矿产的供应。

莫里森说，新的国防合同将在澳大利亚创造大约300个工作岗位，那里是韩华的一个部门。

莫里森说:“我认为，我们今天签署的合同充分说明了我们认为韩国国防工业的能力。

文在寅表示，就地缘政治前景而言，韩国的价值观与澳大利亚相似，但韩国与中国的关系也很重要，尤其是在寻求与朝鲜和平相处方面。

“因此，韩国专注于与美国以及中国的坚定联盟，”文在寅说。“我们想要和谐的关系。”

澳大利亚国防部长彼得·达顿表示，他的政府致力于维护该地区的安全，新合同将有助于澳大利亚军队的现代化。

“新车辆的主要能力是开火和快速移动，避免敌人反击，”达顿说。“这个项目将意味着澳大利亚炮兵能力的火力和安全水平的显著提高。”

根据自2014年生效的自由贸易协定，韩国是澳大利亚的第四大贸易伙伴和第四大出口市场。今年是两国建交60周年。

Australia and South Korea sign defense deal as leaders meet

The Associated Press

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, is invited to sign a visitor's book by Australian...

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia and South Korea signed a $720 million defense deal Monday as South Korean President Moon Jae-in became the first foreign leader to visitAustraliasince the pandemic began.

Worth about 1 billion Australian dollars, the deal will see South Korean defense company Hanwha provide the Australian army with artillery weapons, supply vehicles and radars.

It's the largest defense contract struck between Australia and an Asian nation, and comes at a time of heightened tensions between Australia andChina. Australia recently announced a deal to build nuclear-powered submarines in a partnership with the U.S. and Britain — a move that China has strongly condemned.

Moon met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his visit, and the two leaders agreed to upgrade the formal ties between their nations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership."

The leaders also said they would work together on developing clean energy technologies, including hydrogen, and on facilitating the supply of critical minerals, which Australia has in abundance.

Morrison said the new defense contract would create about 300 jobs in Australia, where a division of Hanwha operates.

“The contract that we have signed today, I think, speaks volumes about what we believe are the capabilities of the Korean defense industry," Morrison said.

Moon said South Korea had similar values to Australia when it came to its geopolitical outlook, but also that its relationship with China was important, particularly when it came to pursuing peace with North Korea.

“Therefore, South Korea is focused on the steadfast alliance with the U.S. and also with China," Moon said. “We want a harmonized relationship.”

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said his government was committed to keeping the region safe and the new contract would help modernize the Australian army.

“The prime ability of the new vehicles is to fire and move quickly, avoiding enemy counterattack,” Dutton said. “This project will mean a significant increase in the level of firepower and security for Australian artillery capability.”

South Korea is Australia’s fourth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest export market under a free trade agreement that has been in force since 2014. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.