PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
DINNER IN HONOUR OF HIS EXCELLENCY SHRI RAJIV GANDHI
PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA CANBERRA 14 OCTOBER 1986
Mr Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, Ministers Shanker and Panja,
High Commissioner Ansari, Parliamentary Colleagues, Honoured
Guests. It is my very great pleasure to welcome tonight a leading
statesman, the Prime Minister of India, one of the world's
great democracies, a man who in less than two years has
brought a new vitality and purpose to international
relations. Since coming to office, in tragic circumstances, Mr Prime
Minister, you have brought to your position a commitment to
facing the realities of our time.
At home you have sought to face squarely and vigorously the
problems pose by technological and structural change.
Abroad, v have gained the respect of the international
community : cr your decisive action on a range of issues in
multila-.1 forums the Comnonwealth, the Non-Aligned
moveme:: e United Nations.
We fir-at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
at Nass. October last year when we had to confront the
rapidly riorating situation in Southern Africa, the
incres'. :. pp) ression by the So-th African security forces
and the-.'. nuing intransio. nce of the Softh African
Govern;-c countenance Teaningful political change.
We mert in London, to consider what further action was
require" he Commonwealth in the light of the Eminent
Perscnf.' c-Report and the further deterioration of the
situa-s! Southern Africa. I know, therefore, from my
own exp:--the wisdom of your counsel and the depth of
your co-: i sion and your convictions.
Our efforts, as Commonwealth leaders, to confront the South
African problem have since been supplemented by actions
taken by the major economic powers the United States,
Japan and the European Community. Your leading role in the
Non-Aligned Movement has further spurred international
realisation of the need for action if a peaceful solution to
this, one of the major moral problems facing the world, is
to be achieved.
Our efforts have clearly shown that the moral force which
countries such as ours can bring to bear over the rather
more self-centred political and economic interests of major
powers can be an important force for world prosperity and
freedom.
Although India as a non-aligned country and Australia do
not share identical approaches to foreign policy, we do
share the firm belief that the major powers alone are not to
be the arbiters of the world's destiny and that others have
a constructive role to play.
No one has more clearly demonstrated this fact than you, Mr
Prime Minister. Your active involvement in some of the most
difficult international issues facing us all has enhanced
the respect in which India is held. Whether in efforts to
resolve the Gulf War, in your previous capacity as Chairman
of the NAM, or as Prime Minister of India, in pursuing the
cause of disarmament in the Mexico Declaration, you have
demonstrated that it need not be only the superpowers which
can influence the international environment.
We are both immediately concerned to promote peace and
security in our region. Australia has welcomed the
establishment of the South Asia Association for Regional
Cc-operation and India's constructive involvement in it.
ialia firmly supports your mediatory role in attempting
ao '. ing about a peaceful political solution to the communal
in Sri Lanka.
r part, Australians have ovei :: he years increasingly
to see our future in the As: a/ Pacific region.
S. as I have frequently said it is vitally important to
.. r : re that Australia continue to enmesh our economy
: e rapidly expanding economies of East and South East
-hat we accept oJi full responsibilities in the South
S: and that we cont ribute actively to the political and
1c wellbeing of the area.
are also a courrnry on the Indian Ocean, concerned
v : ecional stability to our west. Australia also has a
s, interest in political harmony and economic growth for
countries and peoples of South Asia, of which India is
Es an; important part.
I
3.
And like India, Australia's foreign policy has more than a
regional dimension. We too are concerned about global
issues which fundamentally affect prosperity and peace,
issues such as the establishment of a more open and fair
international trading system and the creation of conditions
conducive to meaningful arms control.
At a time when India and Australia are extremely
disappointed at the failure of the Reykjavik meeting I
pledge the continued efforts of our Government to the
pursuit of effective arms control and disarmament, which are
central to the aspirations of both our countries.
We hope that it will be possible to build upon the
substantial neasure of agreement which we understand did
emerge at Reykjavik in order to achieve significant
reductions in nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate
elimination.
Mr Prime Minister
For over forty years now Australia and India have, as active
Commonwealth members committed to the principles of
democracy, worked well together towards reasonable and
viable solutions of international and regional issues in
many forums.
Your visit here gives us the opportunity to readdress our
bilateral relationship, a relationship which has the
potential to serve, especially, the economic interests of
the people of both our countries.
After some years of neglect, I am glad to say that since the
two of us have been in Government, there have been renewed
efforts to expand our relationship, particularly in
developing tne potential fox economic co-operation between
oui two countries.
This interest has been stimula:. ed, first and foremost, at
Government level. Australia's Foreign Minister, Bill
Hayden, visited lniia in May > 55, a visit followed by that
of the Minister for Trade, John Dawkins, in December. Mr
Pant, the Indian Minister for S-eel and Mines, visited
Lustralia earlier : his year.
. our visit crowns : hese exchannes and I take this
pportunity to say that I look forward to making an official
visit to India ar an appropria-e time, to follow up my
atrendance at the Commonwealth meeting in New Delhi.
The result of these visits has been to bring home to
7overnment and the business community on both sides the
practical opportunities which exist for closer and more
active co-opera. i on. Many of Australia's largest businesses
are now actively involved, or interested in becoming
involved, in areas as diverse as banking and investment,
ship-building and port develo). rrent, optic fibre and coal
technology.
4.
Your visit here has provided an impetus for us to pursue
this potential. During your stay business leaders from both
our countries many of whom I am happy to see here tonight
will be forming the Australia-India Business Co-operation
Committee, an6 a revised Science Agreement which will
facilitate projects which could have commercial application
will also be signed. I am pleased, too, that a delegation
of members of this Parliament will be visiting India next
month on a fact-finding mission, which will further enhance
the scope for our co-operation.
Australia is increasingly aware of the potential of the
Indian market. We believe that Australian technology is
immediately adaptable to Indian needs. We both appreciate
the necessity, in a world where political decisions
increasingly defy economic rationality, to find new markets
with old friends.
In our discussions over the next two days we will have the
opportunity to discuss these issues further, to set the
stage for a new 2ra in our relationship, a relationship that
can be much more than friendly, cordial and problem-free.
We can no longer permit our cricketers to set the pace for
us, although the historic tic they achieved the other day in
Madras provides a model for equality and mutual benefit in
international relations.
In our geographic proximity, our strides in economic growth
and development, and the traditions and values we share lie
the ingredients for closer, more dynamic co-operation.
It has been almo3t 20 years since a Prime Minister of India
came to Australia on a bilateral visit. That has been too
long a aan for t. o good fiiends.
Your vlsi! is Therefore especially welcome, not only to my
Government bit to the people of Australia who see in you a
contempozary, pogress-ve, and, if I may say frankly,
couragc'us leadr of a reuntry whose diversity, culture and
potential have long capraied our imagination.