PM Transcripts

VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA 1968
SINGAPORE
ARRIVAL STATEMENT MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
MR. JOHN GORTON 9 JU NE 1968
When I passed through Singapore last week in transit to
Vietnam I explained that my official visit here would be part of a tour
which included several South-East Asian countries. This tour is not
merely one of goodwill on my part as the new Prime Minister of Australia.
It reflects the need for an Australian Prime Minister today to widen his
knowledge of Australia's neighbours in South-East Asia and to gain, at
first hand, experience of the problems which they face and the policies
they are pursuing. I shall be having talks over the next two days with your
Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, and his colleagues, and renewing
my personal acquaintance with a number of them. I expect to give them
an account of my visit to Vietnam and there will be exchanges of views on
various regional questions of concern to both Governments.
My visit is not connected with the Five-Power defence talks
now commencing in Kuala Lumpur, although my discuss-ions here will
naturally include defence and security matters of common interest. The
kind of South-East Asian region that develops in the years ahead, and the
pace of its development, is of vital interest to our two countries. We
have the same basic concern to see in the South-East Asian region a
community of co-operating nations and a climate of order and stability
for national development. I look forward to seeing something of the social and
industrial achievements which are so dramatically changing the appearance
of your island. 1, also hope to learn more about your expansion programmes
for your harbours, shipping, communications and commerical facilities
and for your development and regional economic progress. Relations between
Australia and Singapore are firmly based on useful and practical co-ope ration.
We are both developing peoples, determined to use the
benefits of knowledge and modern technology for our progress and a better
life for our peoples. This is shown by the extensive range of contacts and
exchanges between our two communities, embracing commerce and
education, the professions, tourism and the arts.