PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS PMK No. 74/ 1971
PRESIDENT NIXON'S STATEMENT ON CHINA
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr William McMahon
I welcome without reservation President Nixon's statement
concerning United States relationships with the People's Republic of
China and his intention to visit China early next year. I was informed
of the purport of his statement in advance.
The President's purpose of normalising relationships
with China has been the public ly-announced policy of the Australian
Government for some time.
Indeed, President Nixon's anxiety to " seek normalisation
of relations and exchange views on questions of concern" precisely
describes what we ourselves have been seeking to do by our approaches
through diplomatic channels in Paris.
In particular, I want to draw the attention of the Australian
people to President Nixon's statement that the action he is taking will
" not be at the expense of old friends".
In the future, Australia's policies and actions will be
guided by these principles as they have been in the past.
I share wholeheartedly the President's view that all will
gain from a reduction of tension between the United States and the
People's Republic of Chi na. I wish him good fortune in an initiative
that has the full support of Australia.
I emphasise that President Nixon's statement relates
to the normalisation of relationships with China in the interests of
world peace.
CANBERRA, 16 July 1971