CANBERRA—The Australia-US alliance is stronger than ever, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told a dinner in Washington.
"On occasions like this, in places like the state department, among friends like you, our custom is to celebrate our relationship," she told a group of Australian and American academics, business people and government officials.
Ms Gillard is in the US for a meeting of the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue.
"We emphasise, rightly, the ties that bind us, the alliance which unites and protects us, the trade and investment links which help to underpin our prosperity and the mutual friendship which provides a solid foundation for all the work we do together."
The two nations' entwined history goes back further than the half-century alliance, Ms Gillard said.
"The fourth of July this year is the 90th anniversary of the first time the United States and Australian troops fought together - in the battle of Hamel in northern France in 1918.
"And the Fourth of July was no accident.
"It was chosen by the (Australian) commanding officer, General Sir John Monash, as a mark of respect to the American soldiers fighting side by side with Australians for the first time."
Australia needed to continue its close ties with the US, Ms Gillard said.
"We in the Australian Government have set ourselves ambitious goals in global affairs, in development of an Asia-Pacific community, in ways to address the challenge of climate change, in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
"On all those issues, we look forward to working closely and constructively with the US Administration.
"We will engage on each issue as friends should: frankly, warmly, maturely and constructively disagreeing from time to time, but agreeing more often."
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