A
NQ DATE
27 March 1973
S PRIR MINISTER TO VISIT IMIA
~ The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr Whitlam, announced today that he would make a short visit
to New Delhi from 4 to 7 June.
Mr Whitlam recalled that, at his press conference
* on 13 March, he had said he hoped to be able to accept an
invitation from Mrs Gandhi to visit India this year. He had
also said that no Australian Prime Minister had visited India
since 1959. It had, therefore, given him considerable pleasure
to hear last week from Mrs Gandhi that the dates in June which
he had proposed were acceptable to her.
Mr Whitlam said that the visit would be to India only
and would involve his being absent from Australia for slightly
less than a week in all. He would be accompanied by his wife
and by a small party of officials. ./ 2
-2-
Mr Whitlam went on to say that India, with its
population of 548 million people, was known and accepted
as the world's largest democracy. It was also a significant
industrial and military power with an important part to play
in the Asian region and a member of the Commonwealth. It was
the predominant power in the Indian sub-continent. For all
these reasons it was of considerable and growing importance
to Australia. Mr Whitlam added that in recent years there had been
increasing bilateral consultations and contacts.
" Australia has sought to help and co-operate with
India in tackling some of its economic problems," he said.
" We have both followed with close interest and attention
developments in South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean. Annual
consultations are held between our respective Departments of
Foreign Affairs." Mr Whitlam said he looked forward to discussing at
first hand the various facets of our relations with India and
to exchanging views with Mrs Gandhi on matters of common interest
affecting our two countries.
Mr Whitlam said that his visit to India was important
also in the context of Australia's relationship with the Asian ./ 3
-3-
region as a whole. He had recently made a successful visit to
Indonesia. Later in the year he hoped to visit China and Japan.
The forthcoming visit to India should be seen as part
of a pattern of developing first-hand contacts at the head of
government level with Australia's Asian neighbours.
Mr Whitlam said he hoped that the visits he would be
making this year would be followed up later by visits to other
countries in the region.