ii) A U6T HAIA
FOR PRESS 19 SEPTEMBER 1977
ADDRESS AT CHINESE DELEGATION FAREWELL DINNER
Mr Vice-Chairman, since we first met you, just a week ago
you have travelled across part of our country. You have
seen the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and some of our rural
areas. In this respect your trip somewhat resembles my own
visit to China last year when I saw, not only your great cities,
but also more remote areas, including Urumchi.
You will have gained some impressions of our people, our way
of life and our countryside. But Australia, like China,
is a vast country. When I visited China I was struck by the
distances involved and the diversity of the countryside.
I am sure you have had a similar experience over the past week.
I hope you will come back again to see some of the things your
limited time here prevented you from seeing.
Mr Vice-Chairman, I spoke last week of the excellent way in
which relations between Australia and China are developing.
The Australian Government will continue to foster this
development. I believe, especially, that we have much to
share and build in our economic relationship.
As you said last Tuesday, China is now embarked on a great
plan to modernise he-r economy by the end of this century.
You have seen some of the best examples of our agricultural
and pastoral industries during your visit to the Royal Melbourne
Show and to Wagga Wagga, one of our flourishing rural centres.
In Sydney you have seen the port facilities where many of
the projects which make up the expanding trade between our two
countries are handled.
I look forward to, and indeed firmly believe that there is much
scope for, further expansion in our economic exchanges.
I note in particular the prospects in the agricultural field
which have presented themselves during your visit.
When I was in China, I looked upon your agriculture with
a farmer's eye, and although the farming practices of our two
countries are different, the care with which the Chinese people
tilled their fields and tended their crops was apparent.
The capacity to feed and house 800 million people, to banish the
spectre and the reality of famine is a great achievement. / 2
Australia as a singificant farming nation can well appreciate
the magnitude of this achievement and its significance.
I know that your visit, Mr Vice-Chairman, will have stimulated
the interests of many of my parliamentary colleagues in
visiting China. It will also have strengthened the attitude
of friendship which Australians hold towards China,
and their interest in contributing to the growth of
mutual understanding. This understanding was strengthened
by the family reunion arrangement reached between Australia
and China shortly after my visit to China last year.
Chinese settlers have made a significant contribution
to the development of Australia and it is important that
our two countries should have arrangements for family
reunion.
Mr Vice-Chairman, our two countries have many interestsin common
and on many matters we see eye to eye. On some matters there
are differences in our points of view, but our relationship
now has enough depth and substance to it that it is not
put at risk by plain speaking on such issues of importance.
As you prepare to leave, may I ask you to convey the greetings
of the Australian Government and people to the Government and
people of China.
Your visit, Mr Vice-Chairman, has been a great honour for us
and has given us much pleasure. We have enjoyed having you
and your delegates as we have enjoyed your gracious hospitality
tonight.