PM Transcripts

Ir-
FOR MEDIA 20 JUNE 1979
INVITATION FOR JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION
TO VISIT AUSTRALIA
The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, announced today his intention
to issue an invitation to the Japanese Prime Minister,
Mr. YMasayoshi Ohira, for members of the Japanese Diet -to
visi t Australia each year.
The i" nvitation is designed to reciprocate a similar scheme
hosted by the Japanese Government in which members of the
Austr-alian Government Parties and Opposition, in separate
delegations, have visited Japan each year.
The proposed new scheme would be administered by the
Dezaritment of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Fraser said this scheme would be a valuable addition to
the two existing arrangements under which Japanese Diet
members are invited to visit Australia. Under the first
scheme the Australian Parliament invites a mixed group of
eight Japanese Diet members to Australia for 14 days every
two years. The Japanese Diet reciprocates in the alternate
years. Under the second scheme, the Government each year invites
two foreign Parliamentary delegations of eight members to
visit Australia for 10 to 14 days. Each country's turn
to send a delegation occurs only infrequently because of the
lar-ge number of countries covered by the scheme.
Background The regular exchange of Parliamentary delegations is
im-' c'-4-ant in fostering a better first hand understanding
amongst Japanese legislators of Australian conditions, problems,
and policies. The Government places particular emphasis on
relations with Japan which will play a crucial part in
preserving the future stability and development in our region.
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