PM Transcripts

63/ 1
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 79/ 196i
JOINT COMMUNIQUE
VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
Mr. Hayato Ikeda, Prime Minister of Japan,
accompanied by Mrs. Ikeda is visiting Australia as the guest
of the Government of the Cormonwealth of Australia from 29th
September to 3rd October, 1963. During his stay in Australia,
Mr. Ikeda will visit Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, and have
discussions with Sir Robert Menzies and other Cabinet Ministers.
The Prime Ministers of Japan and Australia have had
cordial and valuable talks marked by frank discussions of the
international situation in general, and covering also consideration
of means of promoting still further the friendly relations
between the tw-countries.
In discussing the international situation, the Prime
Ministers established that there was a close identity between
their respective international policies. They lo-ked forward to
close co-operation in the future, through consultations at
various levels with the aim of promoting the interest of the
two countries and of the free world.
The Prime Ministers especially welcomed the r a prtial
nuclear test ban agreement which they hoped would be supported
by all countries, not least of all by countries in the Pacific
or with interests in the Pacific.
Noting that both Australia and Japan had welcomed the
formation of Malaysia, and recognising the common destiny and
responsibility of their two countries in Asia and the Western
Pacific area, the two Prime Ministers expressed their deep
concern for the situation in that area, and agreed that the
two countries should closely co-operate in contributing to the
attainment of peace and economic progress in that part of the
world. They discussed ways in which Australia and Japan might,
through the Colombo Plan and in other ways, co-operate in
furthering economic development in South East Asia.
The Prime Ministers expressed pleasure and satisfaction
at the recent signing of a Trade Agreement between Australia
and Japan, providing for a full GATT relationship between
Australia and Japan and withdrawing the Article 35 reservation.
It was confidently expected that the new agreement would lead
to a further expansion of the mutually beneficial trade relations
already existing between the two countries.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction
at the further increase in both personal contacts and cultural
exchanges between the two countries, and agreed that the two
Governments would endeavour to promote these developments by
every possible means.
The two Prime Ministers considered that Prime
Minister Ikeda's visit to Australia was of great significance
to the furtherance of mutual understanding and friendly relations
between the two countries, and agreed that the two Governments
should keep the closest possible contacts with each other both
at the ministerial and official levels.
CANBERRlA Septemraber, 1963.