Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles visited Guam yesterday, meeting Governor Eddie Calvo and high-ranking US military officials to discuss Australia-US security cooperation in the North Pacific.

Mr Marles emphasised the enduring importance and contemporary relevance of Australia’s alliance with the United States and the very high value Australia attached to the close cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the US military in the Pacific.

He said that the development of Guam’s infrastructure to accommodate the transfer of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam presented exciting opportunities for Australian companies.

"A key point for me was to set out the benefits Guam can gain from involvement by Australian companies in the new infrastructure and construction projects that are about to get under way on the island," Mr Marles said.

An Austrade trade mission to Guam in March 2011 will help Australian businesses develop opportunities in support of the new infrastructure projects on the island.

Guam has four direct flights a week to Cairns. To help build ties further, an Australian Film Festival organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will take place in Guam in March 2011.

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