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| French entrant into the Australian SEA 1000 project |
CANBERRA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- France plans to broaden its defense ties with Australia if it secures the nation's lucrative contract to build its next generation of submarines.
While touring an Adelaide shipyard on Tuesday, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian revealed his government hoped to forge an enhanced relationship with Australia should its proposal beat out rival bids.
France is currently in direct competition with Japan and Germany to construct the fleet of underwater vessels, in what is presently the biggest defense contract up for grabs in the world.
"We want to contribute something to Australia to help it guarantee its own security by offering these high-tech submarines," Le Drian told reporters on Tuesday.
"It would form part of a truly strategic partnership with Australia, based here in Adelaide," he added.
Read the full story at Xinhua