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CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON FOR THE
PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
CANBERRA 4 JULY 1988
Mr Prime Minister,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Australia, in this
our bicentennial year.
The relationship between Australia and Japan is of profound
and critical importance to both of us. And it is a
relationship which, over the years, we have built into one
which is warm and friendly.
That is reflected by the fact that you, Sir, are making this
visit to us in your first year in office. You are the
seventh Prime Minister of Japan to do Australia the honour
of a visit in just over three decades. And I recall with
pleasure our previous meetings, including our most recent
meeting in Tokyo shortly after you became Prime minister
last year.
Our friendship is reflected in the very large numbers of
Japanese families who are visiting our country as tourists,
and enjoying our hospitality and the grandeur of out
landscape. Let me say, Mr Prime Minister, that your fellow
countrymen and women are v ' ery welcome guests to Australia
and it is my hope that they return home having experienced
an enjoyable and memorable holiday.
our friendship is reflected, too, in Japan's active and
generous involvement in Australia's bicentennial
celebrations. Your exhibition at Expo 88 in Brisbane, the visit of your
fine sailing ship, the Nippon Maru, and the gift of
flowering cherry trees some of which have been planted
here at our new Parliament House have been, and are
continuing to be, noteworthy contributions to our
celebrations. 14.1
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we have appreciated particularly the generosity of both the W(
Japanese Government and the private sector in helping to c
establish the National science and Technology Centre here in ti
Canberra. As you have already seen, the construction of the
Centre is well advanced, and it promises to be a majorB
drawcard for tourists and Canberra residents alike. a
As well as being friends, Australia and Japan are of course
ccolmomsee rcainadl vaalfufeadi rsp. artners across a very wide range of A
We share membership of a very special club -the group ofI
nations clustered around the Western rim of the Pacific. wl
Trade within this region and across the Pacific is growing Ji
at an extraordinary rate. S fi
our two countries, by virtue of our locations, our U
complementary economic structures and the talents of ourI
peoples, stand to gain much from these developments. W m
But, as I have said on numerous occasios h rseiyo r
our region is very much in our own hands. I
If we choose to build upon and accelerate the processes of w
trade liberalisation and economic policy harmonization which p1
are beginning to emerge, there can be no doubt that this t
will truly be the Pacific century.
But the future is far less assured if we do not seize the
opportunities now available. Aq
All nations have a part to play in this process. f
Australia was encouraged by the positive approach to policy A
coordination and trade reform which emerged from the Toronto i
Summit. B
But Japan, by virtue of its economic strength and the sheer
size of its external surplus, has a special responsibility -W
a responsibility not just to secure economic and financial e
stability at home but to ensure the functioning of a viable M
regional and world trading system.
I am pleased to acknowledge that Japan's policies are p
already moving in the right direction. el w
The task of economic restructuring is well underway.
Domestic demand has now replaced exports as the primary 11
engine of Japan's growth a transformation which is already
yielding very encouraging opportunities for Japan's tradingA
partners, including Australia, to gain greater access to the
Japanese market. b
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market.
142
3.
we acknowledge and welcome, Mr Prime minister, the political
courage shown by you and your administration in reaching
that agreement.
But I do not see protectionism as a problem confined to
agricultural trade. It threatens our prosperity across the
whole spectrum of manufacturing and service industries.
And it would be wrong of me to suggest that Australia is
completely satisfied with our access to your markets.
I stress that we are not looking for special favours. What
we want is the opportunity to compete on fair terms.
Japan, as well as the European Community and the United
States, must show their determination to rebuild free and
fair international trade. The opportunity is at hand in the
Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
We look to Japan to use its considerable influence to help
maintain impetus in the Uruguay round and achieve concrete
results this year at the Mid-term Review.
And I would add that, for our part, we are practicing what
we are preaching. For example, we have already announced
phased cuts in tariffs which will reduce average assistance
to manufacturing by 30 per cent over the next 4 years.
Mr Prime Minister,
Australia looks to a steady increase in the range and
quality of our exchanges with the Japanese people. You will
find us a worthwhile partner in any field of endeavour.
Australia is proud of its reputation as a reliable and
important supplier of raw materials to Japanese industry.
But we are also increasingly becoming recognised for our
exports of manufactures and services including tourism.
We are particularly pleased that processed and manufactured
exports are increasing steadily and last year amounted to
more than 20 per cent of our total exports to your country.
We offer an exciting prospect for any investor wishing to
participate in this expanding area of Australian economic
endeavour. I certainly hope that many Japanese investors
will take advantage of the opportunities now on offer here.
Mr Prime Minister,
Australia recognises that Japan's economic strength is
complemented by your growing political influence. we
believe that this is a factor for stability in the
Asia-Pacific region. We value and wish to intensify the
political consultations which we have with Japan on global
an d regional issues of concern to both of us, such as arms
control and disarmament.
4.
We do so aware that the leaders of the United States and the
Soviet Union have created a new climate between them in
which reductions in nuclear arsenals can be pursued in a
constructive fashion.
All of us are aware, too, that the process of change
underway in the Soviet Union, while its outcome is
uncertain, does offer the prospect of new challenges and
opportunities for all of us in the Asia-Pacific region.
You will be aware of the networks of relationships between
our two countries which have developed over the years,
involving businessmen and women, parliamentarians, students,
scientists, academics, journalists, and trade unionists.
The list of exchanges is now very long.
You can be assured that the Australian Government is
committed to maintaining the momentun of broad based
cultural exchanges. we believe the development of further
exchanges in education would represent a valuable new
element in our relationship.
As an example of the creative vision that is appropriate to
our relationship, our two Governments are co-operating in a
joint feasibility study on establishing in Australia a
futuristic technology centre, or multifunctional polis.
It is envisaged that this unique concept will allow both
Australian and Japanese industry to benefit from direct
interaction with Pacific Basin and European companies by
providing an exciting venue for technical research and
industrial co-operation.
I am confident that, despite differences of language,
culture and history, Australians and Japanese will steadily
move beyond the growing recognition that we share certain
elements of a modern lifestyle, towards a better and more
comprehensive understanding of each other including, very
importantly, a deeper intellectual exchange.
Once again, Mr Prime minister and Mrs Takeshita, welcome to
Australia. You are most distinguished guests. Australia
places great value on its relationship with Japan a
relationship which in the post-war period has brought great
benefit to both countries. I look forward with confidence
to a dynamic and expanding partnership.
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