PRIME MINISTER 95/ 93
STATEMENT BY THE HON P J KEATING, MP
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF GERMANY
I am pleased to announce that the President of the Federal Republic of
Germany, His Excellency Mr Richard von Weizsticker, will make a State visit
to Australia from 3 to 9 September 1993 at the invitation' of the Governor-
General. While in Australia President von WeizsAcker will be visiting Melbourne,
Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Cairns. I will meet President von Weizsaicker
in Canberra on Monday 6 September.
President von Weizsacker's visit to Australia will be the first by the President of
a reunified Germany. His visit underlines the dramatic changes in international
affairs in rccent times, including the ongoing process of European union.
Australia's relationship with Germany is substantial. In 1992, Germany was
Australia's eighth largest trading partner. Australian exports to Germany were
worth $ 1.1 billion and imports from Germany $ 3.2 billion.' Germany is also a
significant source of investment for Australia, with capital stock of $ 6.4 billion
invested here. Around 1 15,000 Australians were born in Germany and, at the
1986 census, over 230,000 claimed German ancestry.
I warmly welcome President von Weizsacker to Australia, and look forward to
discussing with him a range of issues including Australian-German relations
and the outlook for European economic integration.
CANBERRA 24 August 1993
STATEMENT BY THE HON PJ KEATING MP VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF GERMANY
8944