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PRIME MINISTER
REMARK$~ BY 7THE PRCIME M4INISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
DINNER HOSTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE,
MR GOli CHO1N TONG
Mr Prime Minister, distinguished guests.
Thank you very much for this generous reception.
F'or Auotralian Prime Ministers cominlg to Singapore has
alwaYe been a pleasure though it must be said that these
days it LB invariably business that we do.
The pleasure uonies fropi doing business with people who I've
always thought shared with Australians a certain personal
style. Some people say that we're both inclined to be a bit blunt
which I will accept on the condition that it doesn't imply
we're not sharp.
I would prerar to think that we're candid direct. We both
like to get to the heart of the matter.
Getting to the heart of the matter is what this visit of
mine to Singapore and Japan and Cambodia is all about.
I want to talk directl~ y to leaders in the region which
matters most to Australia.
As kyou and I both know, Prime Minister, these days we are
Seeking an wers to very large question*
ab Qut the future of the world trading sys tern
about Lhe institutional arrangements we need to cteate
in this part of the world
about thlk security consequences which flow from the and
of the cold war
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The frankness and frequency of the dialogue between
Singapore and Australia sets a good pattern for what needs
to develop more broadly in the region.
Prime Minister
No people are more conscious than Singaporeans that
economies are dynamic and constant change is required if a
country is to keep up with the pace.
The evidence of how well you know that is all around us here
in Singapore.
Australians are developing the same awareness with a speed
which muy ourpriuu yvu.
The last decade has been a great educators a deregulated,
less protected, much more outward looking economy, like
necessity itself, is a great edutiaor.
Being very much more engaged with the dynamic economies of
Asia has the same effect.
Not that our engagement in Asia is new.
The presence here in February of 1,000 Australian war
veterans and their families to take part in thecommemoration
of the 50th anniversary of the fall of
Singapore was a solemn and significant reminder of that.
But the form and extent of engagement has changed. More
accurately, it is changing. Radically changing.
Our two way trade with Singapore grew by 18 per cent last
year, to $ 4.2 billion,
You are our fourth largest export market, our sixth largest
trading partner.
The operative word is " partner's that 18 what we seek in
Asia partnerships.
It is why I am here.
One of the themes of the Business Seminar which I will be
addressing tomorrow is " strategic linkages'. We are seeking
ways in which business in Australia and Singapore can work
together, bltef ally and in the wider region.
As we found during our discussions this a[ fernoon, Prime
Minister, it is a good theme for this visit, and for our
Droader relationhship.
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My visit tomorrow with Defence Minister Yeo to HMAS
Brisbane, which has been exercising with ships of the
Singapore Navy and other partners in the Five Power Defence
Arrangements is a reminder that we have important defence
ties.. The fact that 3000 Singaporeans aro studying in Australia
and, indeed, I understand four members of your C4binet
studied there is further evidence that our relationship
extends beyond pure trade.
But trade is the foundation of it; 80 long as we do all that
Is necessary for business to flourish, we can be confident
that the relationship between Australia and Singapore will
deepen and expand.
I am very confident about our relationship, Prime Minister.
I am very confident about the future.
I thank you for your hospitality tonight and for your
equally generous remarks and I propose a toast.
To you, Prime Minister, and Mrs Goh.
To the prosperity and well-being of the people of Singapore.
And to the friendship between our two countries.
SINGAPORE TEL
24 $ optember 1492