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NQ DATE
M/ 51 9 March 1973
CREATION OF A S'RCOND ASIA DIVISION
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FORIGN AFFAIRS
~ The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Whitlam, announced
today that a second Asia Division would be established within the
Department Foreign
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It is expected that the new Division will become
operational in April.
Until now, there has been only one Division in the
ODepartment dealing with the whole Asian Continent.
The new divisional structure will enable the Department
to handle more effectively the work-load and policy requirements
of Australia's relations with Asia.
One of the Asia Divisions will be responsible for North
and West Asia and the other for South Asia, including South-East
Asia. In addition to some rearrangement of Branch and Sectional
responsibilities the changes also involve the creation of a new Branch
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and a special Section to deal with regional developments,
Mr Whitlam said: " I have emphasised, both before assuming
office and since, the importance of achieving an independent stance
in Australia's foreign policy and the imnortance we attach to
Australia's position in the Asian/ Pacific region.
" The structural changes which have been introduced into
the Department of Foreign Affairs are intended to facilitate the
implementation of the foreign policy initiatives which I have
decided to introduce.
" The establishment of relations with China will entail
increased erfort particularly at the policy level. Our expanding
relations with Japan also require increased attention. The same
will be true with regard to my priorities for the development of
relations with Indonesia within the wider South-East Asian
context. " I have also announced my intention of seeking new forms
of regional co-operation geared to the situation in the Asia/
Pacific area following the Viet-Nam ceasefire, and to the realities
of the