NQ DATE
D/ 39 30 July 1973
PRIME MITISmTR'S VISIT TO MEXICO
The following is the text of the communique issued at
0 the conclusion of the visit to Mexico by the Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Whitlam:-
At the invitation of the President of the Republic, His
Excellency Mr Luis Echevarria, the Prime Minister of Australia, the
Honourable Gough Whitlam, made an official visit to
Mexico from 24 to 28 July 1973. The visit was notable also as the
first by an Australian Prime Minister to a country of Latin America.
0 During the talks which took place between the two lenders,
SPrime Minister Whitlam and President Echevarria exchanged views on
matters of bilateral interest as well world problems. These exchanges
took nlace in an extremely cordial atmosphere reflecting the growing
community of interest between Australia and Mexico, as two Pacific countries
Of Darticular concern in their discussions were the
possibilities that exist of develoning and strengthening the
relations between Australia and Mexico, having regard to the new
nolicies of the Australian Government which are progressive like
those of the Mexican Government. / 2
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The Prime Minister and the President recognised that the
different characteristics of Australia and Mexico in no way limit
or exclude the possibility of close relations in the fields of
cultural, economic and social development, but that on the contrary
differences can complement each other, especially in the economic
field. In order to bring about such aspirations it was considered
anpropriate that the two Governments should study ways to overcome
the problems inherent in the relatively great distance separating
the two countries. In the light of the problems that face a very important
O sector of the nations of the world, the President and the Prime
Minister expressed their conviction that it is necessary to make
further efforts aimed at balancing economic relations between the
industrialised countries and the developing countries.
SBoth leaders declared their conviction that Mexico as
well as Australia can play a decisive role in the task of reconstructing
on a sound, realistic and eauitable basis both international
O trade and exchange of technology in order that the countries of the
Third World may obtain the just benefits which are their due.
Prime Minister Whitlam assured President Echevarria that his
Government would continue to approach the international meetings
concerned with the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States
in a sympathetic and constructive manner. Both leaders were
hopeful that such discussions could lead to a wide agreement making
possible the adoption of such an instrument at an early session of
the United Nations General Assembly. ./ 3
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The Australian Prime Minister referred in terms of warm
praise to the Treaty of Tlatelolco. The Prime Minister and the
President recognised the benefits inherent in the establishment of
a nuclear free zone in Latin America. Both leaders reaffirmed their
strong opposition to the current and future testing of nuclear
weapons, particularly in the atmosphere. The two Governments agreed
to cooperate in all appropriate forums to bring all nuclear weapons
testing to an end.
In the course of their talks the President and the Prime
Minister had a detailed discussion on questions relating to the law
of the sea. The Prime Minister took notice with interest of Mexico's
position in favor of the patrimonial sea. In this regard they firmly
supported the aim of a considerable number of states to exercise
exclusive fishery rights in a zone adjacent to the territorial sea
up to a distance of 200 miles. They also supported the aim of these
states to sovereignty over seabed resources in a wide zone adj2cent
to their coasts. In analysing the commercial exchange between Australia
and Mexico they noted that this has been reduced and they decided
that their Governments should examine the best means of raising
trade relations to their existing potential and taking advantage
of the complementary character of their respective economies. As
an immediate possibility for the increase in trade between the
two countries and the benefits therein they agreed that it was
necessary to prevent the erection of barriers to trade.
The Prime Minister referred to the new measures S../ 4
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established by his Government to reduce import tariffs, including
new preferential arrangements for developing countries.
Mexico will be able to take advantage of these measures
to increase oprortunities for exports to Australia. Both leaders
exchanged points of view on the possibilities to effect co-investment
projects in Mexico. To this end the Government of Mexico invited an
Australian mission to study, on site, the possibilities that Mexico
offers in this area.
Both leaders referred with satisfaction to the close
collaboration that had existed between Australia and Mexico for
many years in a wide range of international organisations. They
decided that such coope-ration between the representatives of the
two countries should be further intensified. In particular, the
President ex-nressed Mexico's satisfaction for the new interest
displayed by the Government of Australia in sending representatives
to observe conferences concerned with ILatin America.
Both leaders considered that it is necessary to
encourage tourism between the twvo countries as well as an exchange
of students and young technicians. Their Governments would study
the most efficient methods to attain these ends.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed that their
Governments will proceed immediately to establish the basis for
the development of scientific and technical exchanges between
Australia and Mexico. The President of Mexico aelcomed the
suggestion by the Prime Minister of Australia that cooperation
between Australia and Mexico, for examTnle in the field of
agricultural science, should be increased immediately. To that
end Mr Whitlam, as a first step, extended an invitation to the
Government of Mexico to send to Australia, during the period
1973-74, two Mexican graduates to pursue studies in Australia on
this field. The President invited the Prime Minister to send a grouD
of young technicians and professors to make studies at the Commission
for the Study of the National Territory ( C7T7NAL). The President
and the Prime Minister made reciprocal offers to create
scholarships for graduates of different disciplines.
The Prime Minister invited the President to visit Australia.
The President accepted the invitation and pending the setting of
a date, high level Mexican officials will go to Australia in the
near future.