PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS P. M. No 58/ 1970
MEETINGBETWEEN THE PR~ TI MINISTERS
GF CA NAA t AUTRALIA
joint oita~ er. nent19 M A Y 1970
In the course of his official visit to Australia the Prime
Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable P. E. Trudeau, M. P. met vi th
Mr. Gorton at Parliament House this moraing for official discussions
and later with Cabinet Ministers in the Cabinet Room.
The Australian Government exnoressed great pleasure at the
Canadian Government's increasing interest i the Pacific and South East
Asian area. The Prime Ministers' talks affirmed the importance of
the closest relations between Australia and Canada. They discussed
means of fostering periodic consultations between the two Governments
and between Canadian and Australian Ministers and officials. These
consultations will bring under review matters of common interest
affecting the two countries including those in the economic field,
international political developments, multilateral trade and economic
conditions as well as the future development of trade, investment and
other business activity. The Prime Ministers envisaged these talks also
extending to matters relating to cultural exchanges, communications,
science, technology and civil aviation. Whilst there would be no fixed
timetable for regular meetings it was expoected that these discussions would
take place either between Ministers or oftficials not less frequently than
every two years alternately in Ottawa and Canberra.
The course of recent events in Cambodia and the Djakarta
conference, including the call for the reactivation of the International
Control Commission, were brought under review in the course of a
discussion of world trends. The ' rnDorta:: ce of foreign aid to the
stability and the welfare of developing nations and the scope for the development
of Australian and Canadian aid programmes in the region were discussed.
The discussions in Ottawa between exporter members of the
International Grain-s Agreement on 4 and 6 May and the problems likely
to arise from Britain's ' negotiations to enter the European Economic
Community were reviewed.
Mr. Trudeau reviewed the development of Canada's nuclear power
programme and its role in the country's economic and industrial future.
The visit of Mr. Trudeau, following upon Mr. Gorton's official
visit to Canada last year, symbolised the ess-ential quality of the historic
and friendly relationship between the countries and served to re-emphasise
,~ the value to this relationship of continuing exchanges on the manymatr
of common interest.
CANBERRA, 19 May,. 1970
Mr. Trudeau noted that if the International Control Commission were
reactivated it would be essential to have its functions clearly defined and
effectively supported.