SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
LAOS STATE DINNER, 5 APRIL 1994
( CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY; EMBARGO 9PM AEST)
Thank you very much for your warm welcome.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to return the visit
of Prime Minister Khamtay to Australia last Decemubervery
pf~ eased to visit Vientiane and Laos.
In the last two years, as Prime-Minister, I have been to
many of the countries of the region. I have to say that,
apart from the quite phenomenal energy and growth to be
seen, nothing is quite so striking as the difference
between them.
Every country I have visited is a reminder of the fallacy
which still prevails among many people in the Western
nations, that Asia is essentially monolithic that the
countries of Asia are fundamentally alike.
Laos is another reminder of the untruth of that.
Not only is Laos a country with a unique history and
cultural heritage, within your borders live, I
understand, people from about 70 different ethnic
backgrounds. While I suspect that it is not widely known in the rest
of the world, including in Asia, the modern Australian
population is also a heterogeneous one deriving from
some 150 national backgrounds, including the nations of
As ia.
Despite this, I think it is safe to say that in Asia many
people think of Australia as a purely Europeanessentially
British country, with a purely European and
essentially British view of the world.
In fact, like Laos, these days our view of the world is
distinctly our own.
Like Laos, Australia has embarked on a new future. Like
Laos, we seek it primarily in new and deeper
relationships with the countries of Asia and the Pacific.
2
And because we have undertaken some fundamental reforms
to open up our economy, we are succeeding.
Today the Asia Pacific is where we do most of our trade;
it is where we invest; it is where we work to develop the
necessary stucues for trade and investment, increase
mutual understanding and strengthen the security of the
region. We have long recognised the fact of our proximity to
Asia. We have long seen the necessity to engage with the
rg-ibn.
Our forty year old relationship with Laos is evidence of
thi s.
But we have never engaged as we engage now. Our
relationships with the countries of the region have never
been so rewarding or so complete. We have never been so
positive about our relationship with the region, nor so
confident about the creative role we can play.
To do this we have had to open up both our economy and
our minds.
We have recognised the rewards to be gained from
engagement with the most dynamic economies in the world;
and the benefits which flow from our participation in the
economic development of countries like Laos.
These are great rewards.
But Australia has also recognised that, whether it is in
our relationships with the developed or the developing
countries of the region, there is an added dimension to
the return on our investments.
There is a'sense in which contemporary Australia is
discovering itself through its increased involvement in
As ia.
We have discovered, among other things, that we can
compete with the Asian economies.
In learning to compete we have discovered new capacities
to work more efficiently and more cooperatively, to use
and develop our skills and technology, to develop
products and markets for them, to understand and do
business with countries very different from our own.
Countries like Laos.
We have also discovered that we can play a creative role
in the great issues confronting the region. We learned
that through the success of initiatives to bring peace to
Cambodia.-
We learned it through our initiatives with " APEC the
forum which promises to contribute so much to -trade and
investment in the Asia Pacific.
And we have discovered that, far from representing a
threat to our culture and institutions, our engagement is
increasing our confidence and re-shaping and renewing our
sense of national identity.
For similar reasons I believe Laos should feel confident
that its culture and traditions will readily survive the
new openness the Laotian government is encouraging.
Your government's far-sighted reforms will enable Laos to
deepen its relations with other countries in the region.
Reforms such as the new liberal forei-gn investment laws
are attracting investment and expertiise essential for
economic development.
Australian companies are keen to take advantage of them.
It is an example of the way in which, with the easing of
longstanding political antipathies, we are discovering
that we have many complementary interests.
Australian companies can offer expertise in transport,
building and construction, communications and energy
emerging from the experience of developing a vast and
immensely varied continent.
It is a matter of great pride and satisfaction to my
government and to the Australian people that we have put
these skills to use in the construction of the Friendship
Bridge. It is our great hope and belief that it will play an
important part in making the future for the people of
Laos more secure and more prosperous.
Australia hopes that theFr. Lendsbhip_. Bari4ge will be an
enduring symbol of our relationship with the region of
the expertise we can bring and the good will we bring
with it.
It is also a matter of pride that, like the Friendship
Bridge, the new border control facilities, which it will
be my privilege to open tomorrow, were funded by
Australian development assistance and engineered by
Australian companies.
Australia is now the third-largest foreign investor in
Laos.
An Australian company, T-ran~ s-4eld, is developing the Nam
Thewn 2 hydro-electric project the largest single
enterprise investment ever undertaken in your country.
NormandyPoseidon, an Australian mining company, has
formed a joinfV venture to explore for minerals and
develop a 5,000 square kilometre area north-east of
Vientiane. During my stay I will have the pleasure of witnessing
with Prime Minister Khamtay the signing of a Memorandum
of Agreement between the government of Laos and the
Hydro-Electric Corporation of Tasmania to develop two
major projects in Southern Laos.
Prime Minister Khamtay and I will also witness the
signature of an investment promotion and protection
agreement setting up a framework for commercial relations
between us.
I also take this opportunity to say that the Australian
government is aware of the acute rice shortage Laos is
presently suffering and I am able to announce this
evening that Australia will contribute $ 1 million in
emergency relief funds through the World Food Program to
help meet this need.
Tonight I am pleased to announce the first Australian
multi-year commitment to Laos $ 47.5 million over the
four years to 1997.
This will allow pressing needs in a number of development
sectors in Laos to be addressed.
These include the construction of a number of
bridges on Route 13 and further road works in
association with the Friendship Bridge.
An innovative program of English language
instruction to be screened on Australian Television
International supported by audio visual and print
materials. A childrens health initiative including an increased
effort to eradicate polio and control malaria in the
region.
We are friends of 40 years standing. Yet only now are we
discovering the potential of our friendship.
While very different countries we are rapidly learning to
recognise similarities in outlook and interest we had
never seen before.
A common interest in trade and investment, in regional
security and prosperity; a common interest in protecting
our culture and identity while underpinning our future
prosperity. If Australia and Laos continue to look for the common
ground between us, while remaining open to the region and
the world, I have no doubt that our friendship and our
two countries will grow and prosper.