Our alliance key to future peace: George HW Bush

George HW Bush saw the ­Australia-US relationship as fundamental to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Former US president George HW Bush and wife, first lady Barbara, are paid a visit by former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke and his wife Hazel at the US Embassy in Canberra, in 1992. Picture: Barry Mckinnon.

George HW Bush saw the ­Australia-US relationship as funda­mental to the future peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and urged both countries to continue to work closely ­together to engage constructively with China.

In one of his last interviews, conducted for a forthcoming ­biography of Bob Hawke, the former US president said Australia and the US shared a commitment to “democracy, freedom and human rights” and must remain steadfast friends and allies.

“We are bound by a history of alliance, by culture, by common values,” Mr Bush said. “It only makes sense for two of the leading proponents of democracy, freedom, fair trade, human rights and the other issues that bind us ­together to stand together, and work together, to shape a future where greater freedoms and ­opportunities are possible.”

Mr Bush, US president from 1989 to 1993, said Australia-US relations were a priority of his ­administration.

He had a particularly close personal relationship with Mr Hawke during his prime ministership (1983-91), enjoyed working with him on a range of ­issues and recalled his strong support during the liberation of ­Kuwait in 1990-91. The former president also got on well with Paul Keating, who hosted Mr Bush on a visit to Australia in 1991-92, during which he met with the cabinet and became the first foreign leader to address the parliament.

Mr Keating invited George and Barbara Bush to stay at Kirribilli House as his personal guests after they had left the White House in 1994.

Mr Bush emphasised that the US should continue to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific ­region and the alliance with Australia should be a central element of US engagement. He said it was “very important” that co-operation on intelligence-sharing, personnel exchanges, military exercises and combined operations continued to deepen.

He cautioned that the US and its allies should not be confrontationist towards China and ­encouraged co-operation and dialogue on economic and sec­urity issues. He recalled discussing China with Mr Hawke. He had previously served as chief of the US liaison office in China in 1974-75. “I have long thought trying to counter China’s rise on the world stage would be a counter-­productive exercise,” he said.

“I also think there is absolutely a role for the US and Australia to engage China, work with China and continue raising with China those concerns we have, whether it is on copyright issues, human rights, or what have you.”

The full interview with Mr Bush, who has died aged 94, will be revealed in the forthcoming ­biography of Mr Hawke to be published by Penguin Random House.