PM Transcripts

Embargo until 5 pm. PRIMEST AIAITE
FOR PRESS 4 April 1978
The Prime Minister announced today that he would be making
a two day working visit to Japan in April. He would
arrive in Tokyo on 19 April.
Mr Fraser said that he believed that there were important
international economic problems that he should discuss
with Mr Fukuda, and he'had suggested to Mr Fukuda that
there would be advantage in their meeting before Mr Fukuda
left on his forthcoming visit to Washington. Mr Fukuda had
readily agreed.
Mr Fraser said the world still faced significant economic
problems and he was concerned that all avenues be explored
to bring about an improvement in international economic
development.
He welcomed the opportunity for discussions with Mr Fukuda
in an informal and personal way. He expected that these
would cover the general problem of the world economic
situation, and matters such as world trade and the North-
South Dialogue for international economic development.
Mr Fraser stressed that he would not be seeking to negotiate
bilateral matters with Mr Fukuda on this occasion. The
Deputy Prime Minister had only recently returned from Japan
where he had held extensive and useful talks with the
Japanese Government and business leaders on these issues.