PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 2 OCTOBER 1987
I will visit Singapore on 27 and 28 November and the
Soviet Union from 29 November to 2 December.
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The visit to the Soviet Union follows an invitation from the
Soviet Government extended by the Soviet Foreign Minister,
Mr Shevardnadze, during his visit to Australia earlier this
year. I will be accompanied by the minister for Foreign Affairs
and Trade, Mr Hayden.
The visit comes at a time of important developments in
Soviet policy and will provide a timely opportunity to
explore further prospects for developing Australian-Sovietrelations.
I look forward to discussing with Soviet leaders a range of
international and bilateral issues, both economic and
political, particularly in the light of the projected
conclusion of the US and Soviet agreement on intermediate
nuclear forces and the Summit meeting between President
Reagan and Mr Gorbachev.
The USSR is an important trading partner of Australia and a
group of prominent. Australian businessmen will be in Moscow
during the visit.
The visit will also include Leningrad.
In Singapore, I will be having discussions with
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on international and regional
issues of mutual interest.
I will also deliver the 1987 Singapore Lecture, under the
auspices of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, at the
invitation of Mr S. Rajaratnam, Senior minister in the
Prime Minister's Office. 0 0 1