PM Transcripts

t-A A NNO DATE
M/ 44 23 March 1974
AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO 50TH ECAFE CONFERENCE
The Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mro Whitlam, announced today that the Minister for
Science and Minister Assisting the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Morrison, would lead the Australian Delegation
to the 30th session of the UN Economic Commission for Asia
and the Far East ( ECAFE), to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka,
from 27 March to 8 April.
Mr. Whitlam said that the annual sessions of ECAFE
reviewed the economic and social situation in the region and
the commission's activities throughout the previous year. The
commission's future priorities and work programs were also
decided at these sessions.
The session would provide a valuable opportunity for
cons. ideration by member countries of the fundamental economic
and social problems of the area. It was envisaged that a new
development strategy for ECAFE would be discussed at the session.
In keeping with its policy of encouraging economic, social and
political co-operation in the Asian and Pacific region,' the
Australian delegation would play a constructive role in this
work. Mr. Morrison would make the Australian statement in the
session's general debate.
As in previous years, the delegation would include
officers of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Trade
and the Treasury.