PM Transcripts

ASIAN TOUR 1967 TAIWAN
JOINT COMMVUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND) THE COMMVOMWEALTE OF AUSTRALIA 6TH APRIL, 1967
At the invitation of the Government of the Republic
of China, the Right Honourable Harold E. Halt, Prime Minister
of the Commonwealth of Australia and Mrs. Halt, accompanied
by high-ranking officials of his government, visited the
Republic of China from April 4th to April 6th, 1967.
President Chiang Kai-Shek, in expressing his deep
appreciation for Prime Minister Holt's visit, considered it
to be a significant milestone in the history of the friendly
relations between the Republic of L China and Australia.
Prime Minister Halt, on hi~ s part, thanked President Chiang,
Vice President and concurrently Prime Minister Yen Chia-Kan
and the Government and people of the Republic of China for
the warm hospitality accorded to him, to Mirs. Holt and to the
members of his party during the visit.
During his stay in the Republic of China, the Prime
Minister had the opportunity of holding a series of frank and
free discussions with President Chiang, Vice President and
concurrently Prime Minister Yen and other Chinese Government
leaders on the world situation, particularly the situation in
Asia and the Pacific and other matters of common interest to
the two countries. Presideit Chiang and Prime Minister Holt reaffirmed the
long-standing friendship between the Republic of China and
Australia and pledged to further strengthen their co-operation
in the common effort to maintain peace and security in the basis
of freedom and ju--tice and to promote the oconomic prosperity of
this area. President Chiang expressed thle admiration of the
Government and people of the Republic of China for tho stand which
Australia has taken in Vietnam an'. the significant contribution
Australia has made and is still making to the fighting in Vietnam
agaii-ot communist aggression. The two leaders are agreed that
peace, like freedom, is indivisible and that inasmuch as Hanoi
has repeatedly refused to ne gotiate for peace, no end to tho war
in Vietnam is at present in sight and, theroefore, such joint
effort as has been made to resist communist aggreosion, in Vietnam
should be continued,
Prime Minister Halt also had the opportunity of visiting
the industrial centres and harbour facilities of the Republic of
China. He was greatly impressed by the vitality of the people,
the tremendous progress that has been made in the field of
economic development and the political stability that the country
enjoys under the inspiring leadership of President Chiang.
President Chiang and Prime Minister Holt believe that
since Asia has now become the crucial area of resistance to
communist aggression, it is essential that the two countries
should do their utmost to promote unity among free nations
everywvhere and among member nations of the Asian and Pacific
Council in particular, so that the threat to world peace posed by
militant communism on the Chinese Mainland and elsewhere in Aoia
can be eliminated and conditions for the promotion of the economic
prosperity and social well-being for all the peoples of this
area established.