TEL: 15:~ 463. INAop. rU. 26954 F-U. l'u,
TRANSCR~ IPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON P. J. KEATING MP,
DOORSTOP, BORDER CONTROL FACILITY, VIENTIANE,
WEDNESDAY, 6 APRIL 1994
E& OE PROOF COPY
PM: My first comment would be to say that I have had a very warm
reception here in, Laos, very good meefings with the Prime
Minister and the President. I think they appreciate very much the
tangible manifestation of Australia's friendship with Laos in the
building of this bridge which will change the commerce of this
country by allowing traffic from Thailand for the first time ever.
This Border Control Facility we are standing in now is set up
really for the next thirty or forty years of traffic of people between
these two countries, This is a matter of great significance to thorn
and, of course, not only were jobs created here in Laos, but many
Australian jobs were created in providing the materials for these
particular construction projects and the design work which went
with thern.
Australians are very Interested in the area, they are very
interested In the Asia Pacific, they do want to see Australia
projecting Itself and engaging Itself with the area. I can think of
no better example of that than this that is, a change of material
substance to two nations brought about by Australia's financial
assistance and technical capacity. I thnk this will open the way
for our many major companies in this country for Instance. the
, likes of CRA the gold miner Normandy Poseidon, T eistra which
is our major telecommunications carrier operating here and many
other companies as well, and our construction companies, of
course, who have built these facilities.
So, in a sense, the civil work~ s are a pipe opener to even greater
things in commerce which we can do together and these things
auger well for our relationships in this part of South East Asia.
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J: Mr Keating, did you seek or did you gain any assurance from the
Lao authorities that the buidge would be able to operate efficiently
and that it would start carrying treffic soon after it opens?
PM:. That assurance is completely clear. That is, there is no way that
these facilities are going to be built and not in any way used to
their maximum capacity. I had very good talks with the
Government and with the Prime Minister and he told me that the
priorities for development is this country were firstly, for human
development, education, health, social security and then In areas
where the country has a oomparative advantage in hydro
electricity, in agriculture, and in these areas he said that national
policy was being focused and he mentioned most particularly
protection of the environment. The Government here is very
conscious of the natural heritage of Laos and they want to keep
that heritage while developing the country. I was very heartened
to hear this and as part of out aid program we have provided $ 1
million which can be devoted to an environmental protection
strategy which may assist the Government of Laos in developing
the country, but doing it in a way which is harmonious with the
environment.
J, Aid has been the primary feature of Australia's relationship with
Laos to date, how quickly do you think that that will be reweighted
in favour of trade over time?
PM: I think it will be reweighted first In favour of investment and then
latter in favour of trade. Trade between us is growing, but in
absolute terms it is not great, but the Investment is going to pick
up quite sharply because Laos has attracted a clutch of the best
of Australian companies. That is, the financially strongest,
technically able and, I think thW given the prospectivity In
minerals, the prospects in agriculture, the Interest the
Government has in developing hydro electricity, civil engineering,
road and other constructions, all of these things, I think, lend
themselves to Australian companies and these projects are a
demonstration of what Australia can do. So, I think, there is
going to be probably quite substantial investment by Australia in
. Laos and what will follow that will be trade.
J: This investment message is similar to that you were putting in
China last year. Are Australian companies moving quickly
enough?
PM: I think so. In China we have got nearly one thousand companies
operating and here we are seeing over fifty companies already,
but as I said, they happen to be somne of the strongest that we
have. They are not just any companies, but some of our
strongest companies. When one looks at the tremendous
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development possibilities here and you can start to see,
particularly some of the Thai financial institutions in the city,
some of the buildings which have been built on the highway out
to te bridge, it is not going to take very long before you start to
see this economy tick over and it will require fir3t: and foremast
primary infrastructure which we are very much In the position of
supplying.
J: Do you think ordinary Australians realise the extent to which
Australia is now involved in South East Asia?
PM: I would like to think that Australians are both not just pleased to
be involved in South East Asia for their economic long-run
benefits and prosperity, but proud to be as well. That is, to be
engaged with the region as wo have never been engaged before
because all of these things are laying the foundations for the 21 st
century Australia. The one that will have a much closer
engagement with Asia, whose economic fortunes will be
interwoven with Asia. I think ali of this means, this is a pro-cursor
to growth and jobs in Australia. That is, if we want long-term
increments to wealth and employment, exports and trade in
services are going to be part of that story and this is the place to
be selling it.
J: Did you make any specific representations to the Lao
Governiment about the need for human rights and greater
democratisation?
PM: one question I did raise with them was the q~ uestion of North
Koreg and the Laotian Government has very good relationi with
' 4orth Korea and I pointed out the futility of North Korean attitudes
in terms of the International reaction to thorn and how the
Government of L8os May encourage the government of North
Korea in the kind of developments which we have seen here. I
had an encouraging response from the Prime Minister also
saying that, of course, matters have got to be resolved by Cooperation,
by discussion and amicably, but he did echo the
concerns which I had expressed and agreed in my view that the
kind of development which North Korea ought to be able to take
is precisely what we are seeing here.
ends TL: 6. Rpr. 94 15: 43 No. 023 P. 03/ 033