If~ fak AFFAIRS FM S
M/ 166 UATIfE 8 November 1973
PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE. PEKING
Below is the transcript of the Prime Minister,
Mr Whitlam's press conference held in Peking, China, on
4 November, 1973.
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0 Qi~ PRIME MINISTER: Ladies and gentlemen: You already have the
Joint Press Communique. There is one thing I can add to it.
Following the dinner the Australian delegation gave to the
Premier and the Chinese side last night, there will be discussions
about a Treaty of Nationality between the two governments. There
are two other things I should say about the questions which I will
invite you to put to me. One is, I gather it is the custom of
this country for guests not to purport to state the policies or
views of the host. Secondly, it is the custom not to detail
conversations which the Chairman has with visitors. The subjects
of the conversations have already been given to you. There is
one matter of particular importance which my colleague,
Dr Patterson, could announce to you at this stage.
DR PATTERSON: Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen: As you
know Mr Crean and I have had discussions with several ministries
over the last few days. And one of the very important and
substantial matters which has been now finalised is that the
Chinese Government has agreed to purchase very large quantities
of sugar from Australia within the provisions of a long-term sugar
agreement with Australia. Quantities involved are in the vicinity
of 300,000 tons of sugar per year. The initial agreement will be
three to five years duration. Details will be the subject of
further discussions between the Australian Sugar Industry and the
China National Cereals Oil and Foodstuffs Import and Export
Corporation and the governments of China and Australia. For
some time the industry in Australia, the sugar industry in
Australia, has been anxious for China to install specialised modern
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bulk handling facilities for the importation of sugar large
quantities of sugar and the Chinese Government is making
arrangements to install specialised modern bulk receiving
facilities for raw sugar as well as some other commodities.
Also, the Chinese Government is making arrangements to send a
team of technical people to Australia to study and inspect
Australia's bulk handling facilities which are amongst the most
modern in the world. I might say gentlemen that this agreement
will be of tremendous importance to Australia. lt is the
culmination of a series of discussions which commenced when
Mr Whitlam first came to China in 1971. We have carried it on
carried those discussions on a number of ways since that time
and the sugar industry in Australia through the C. S. R. company
who are the agents have also continued those discussions.
PRIME MINISTER: N'lay I repeat the significance of the concluding
remarks that Dr Patterson made. He inaugurated these discussions
in July 1971. They have come to a successful conclusion on his
return visit. Are there any questions to Mr Crean, Dr Patterson
or me'?
Q. Prime Minister, can I ask Dr Patterson a question?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
Q. Can you place any estimate, any value, on this agreement
with China?
DR PATTERSON: The details, as I mentioned, will be worked out
in discussions between the industry, the two industry
representatives, and the Governments. But, naturally, they will
be related to world prices. World prices at the present time
are $ 150 Australian per ton so it will be, if you take present
world prices, it is a figure somewhere around 850 million per year
over a three to five year period. But it could be, of course,
that long-term negotiations as with the Commonwealth Sugar
Agreement, that the long-term price will be a fair price to both
countries not necessarily a high price. That is it will be a fair
price, a negotiated price, as has been the practice in the
long-term sugar agreement between Australia and the Commonwealth
Sugar Agreement with Britain which, as you know, expires at the
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end of next year.
Q. Prime Minister, may I ask a question? Vie understand, while
cin Peking, you lodged a protest to the Chinese Government about
the nuclear testing in the atmosphere. Can you give us the terms
of that protest and indicate the response of the Chinese Government?
PRIME MINISTER: This subject was raised in the conversation with
Chairman Mao. As I said, details of such conversations are not
disclosed. The approach that the Australian Government has made
on this matter is well known. I reiterated it.
Q. That's with Chairman Mao. What about with the Premier? Does
the same answer apply?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. He was there. The Premier was there in the
talks with the Chairman, as also was the Assistant Foreign Minister.
Q. Was the question raised in the other talks.
PRIME MINISTER: No.
Q. Prime Minister, could you be a bit more explicit on the
Treaty of Nationality which you referred to in your opening
remarks? PRIME MINISTER: There is very little more I can say at this
Sstage. It covers the general question of what nationality people
6elong to irrespective of or dependent on their ancestry. And
there has been a confusion up until now about the doctrine of dual
nationality as asserted in respect to persons of Chinese ancestry
Ioverseas. The confusion has been largely due to the fact that
the Kuomintang Government, the Chiang Kai-shek regime always
asserted that persons of Chinese ancestry abroad remained
Chinese citizens. This is not an attitude that the Government
of the People's Republic has ever taken.
Q. The question of the Middle East. Premier Chcu raised this
Oy in private discussion with you. Did he say what he thought of
the Australian attitude of neutrality in the Middle East?
PRIME MINISTER: First question, yes. Second question, no.
We discussed the Middle East question as, I suppose, I can say we
discussed practically every matter anywhere in Asia. We stated
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our respective positions. There was no suggestion by the
Premier that Australia' s attitude should change. I heard his
attitude, he heard mine. It was one of the matters upon which
we differed.
Q. Prime Minister, did you discuss defence and, if so, can
p T you outline to us your own defence projects for the region?
PRIMVE MINISTER: We didn't discuss the question of defence at all.
The other subject, I think, is rather too wide to take up here.
Q. As a result of your talks do you feel there is any role for
SAustralia in helping to improve relations between China and the
five important South-East Asian countries in their relations with
Australia? PRIME MINISTER: I believe the example of the fruitful relations
between China and Australia will be reassuring to the ASEAN
nations. Q. Did Premier Chou repeat the request 1 believe he made to
Overseas Trade Minister, Dr Cairns a request that Australia
might be able to explain to these countries in South-East Asia
which don't at the moment recognise China, explain to them the
Chinese point of view particularly on the question of overseas
Chinese and the nationality question. Did he ask you to pass on
any messages?
PRIME MINISTER: No. However, I heard his views on all these
matters, so naturally when I discuss any such matters with the
ASEAN countries I would have in my mind the view of the Chinese
Government as I heard it directly from the Premier. But the
Premier certainly didn't seek for Australia a role of apologist
or intermediary in any way. I was very happy to hear his views
on all these matters, and he seemed interested in hearing my
views my government's views on such matters.
Q. Did Premier Chou ask you to explain the Australian position
QO on the Five Power Arrangements?
PRIME MINISTER: There wa s scarcel y any mention of -this. It was
mentioned but very briefly.
Q. While you said Premier Chou did not ask you to become an
intermediary link with South-East Asian countries, is it your
intention to try to explain to them the Chinese view or is it just
a matter of if they raise it? Are you going to specifically go
out to try to explain China's position in the ASEA1i countries?
i'RIIEh MINISTER: I have said again and again that the Australian
Government doesn't seek or purport to be an advocate or apologist
for any other government including the Chinese Government. Very
clearly, however, in having discussions with any of the AflEAN
countries, and there will be such discussions in Australia within
the next couple of weeks and there will be in all of them within
three months. In their countries this subject would be
discussed. It would be a pretty empty discussion if such matters
were not discussed. I expect it would be discussed. The
discussion as far as I am concerned will be all the more relevant
in the light of the discussions I have had in Peking.
Q. You will feel. free to pass on Premier Chou's explanation
of the Chinese attitude?
PRINE MNITSTER: I will certainly explain the position as I
understand it. But it is not a question of passing on any
messages or views, that was not sought, and it was not
volunteered. I don't think you would expect it to be sought
or volunteered. The great advantage of talks in depth and at
length that we have been able to have this week is that there has
bc-, en an opportunity of getting a very thorough understanding of
all relevant matters.
Q. ~ eunderstand you have issued an invitation to Premier Chou
Ito come to Australia. L'as there any indication from him whether
e S~ ewould accept?
PRIME MINISTERt: The Premior knows that he would be very welcome
to the Australian people and the Australian Government. I think,
however, one must accept that there are some office bearers in
the world to whom it would be an embarrassment to press an
invitation. A man who is Premier of China or is President of
the United States cannot be expected to accept a fraction of the
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invitations that he receives. There are already scores of
invitations on the Premier's plate. Obviously we would be very
happy to receive a visit from him, but it is not really courteous
to press such invitations. There will be, I would expect, quite
regular interchanges of visits between Ministers and officials or
our two governments. The great thing that has been achieved this
week is that a generation of lost contact between our two peoples
has been successfully brought to an end. We can now communicate,
in Australia, in China, between ministers and officials and
people of the two countries without any inhibitions. The lost
generation is now buried.
Q. Did you raise your idea of a regional forum and, if so, what
was the Chinese reaction?~
PRIME MINISTEF: The general idea is welcomed. Clearly, however,
it takes a little time to create such an arrangement or framework
where you still have some confusion about diplomatic relations
between countries in this region of the Western Pacific or
South-East Asia. I notice I have had a few questions but very
few questioners.
Q. Dr Patterson, about the Sugar Agreement. Will the Sugar
Agreement have a cushioning effect on the Australian Sugar
industry at the time of the ending of the Commonwealth Sugar
Agreement? DR PATTERSON: As you know, the British Commonwealth Sugar
Agreement is due to expire at the end of next year. It is the
stated intention of the British Government to phase out the
335,000 long tons which Australia sells to Britain and has sold
for a long number of years. It is hoped that that phasing out
period will be around three years. The effect of the proposed
long-term agreement between China and Australia will naturally
be well received because in the event of the loss of this
British market occurring suddenly then we would be able to phase
in the new or proposed agreement. You can see the significance
of it because it will be bigger than the United States quota
for Australia under the United States Sugar Act and the
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magnitude of this agreement can be guaged by the fact that the
biggest bilateral or special arrangement between Australia and
any other nation.
Q. Do you regard the Chinese Government's willingness to allow
Chinese nationals to migrate to Australia as a concession?
PRIME MINISTER: There were no arrangements hitherto, so we now
have the position where there can now be family reunion with China
as already with many other countries. You remember that this
4D~ matter was raised in the Parliament a fortnight ago by Mr Martin
Nicholls.
oc Q. How do you see the future relations between Australia and
China as a result of this visit?'
Cl PRIME MINISTER: VV'e can now expect that there will be direct and
substantial relations between China and Australia as there should
be between countries of our respective significance in this
region or, indeed, in the world. It has been a very great gap
in the relations of each country that there were no direct
relations between both of them. The fruitful relations between
China and Australia will make for fruitful relations between
China and many other countries in the region and between Australia
and many other countries in the region. It is a good rational
friendly breakthrough.
cQy Q. Could you tell us something about how the results of your
recent visit to Japan last week were appreciated here in China?
PRIME MINISTER: The significance of Japan's and Australia's
relations were well appreciated because of the sheer magnitude
of the trade between the two of us. It was understood, I think,
that Australia sold more to Japan than to any other country and
Japan sells more to Australia than to any country other than the
United States. It was accepted, therefore that relations between
Japan and Australia must become very close indeed.
Q. You said that the Middle East was one area of disagreement
between the two governments and nuclear testing was obviously
another. Can you tell us the other areas on which you disagree?
PRIME MINISTER: Bangladesh, Korea.
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Q. During your visit here I understand you met Prince Sihanouk,
the head at' the Cambodian Government in exile. Can you tell us
the purpose arnd the outcome of that discussion?
PRIPM MINISTER: While I was in Peking where Prince Sihanouk
Sresides, I welcomed the opportunity to have an exchange of views
with him. He is the acknowledged spokesman of GRUNK and FUNK.
He is the only representative of either who is known to me or to
the ambassador or to Australians in general. It was a valuable
c7~ opportunity to hear at first hand his views on the situation
in his country and in the region.
Q. It doesn't suggest any change in our recognition of the
present Lon Nol Government?
PRIME MINISTER: No, as long as the Lon Nol Government is in
possession of the capital of Cambodia and is in the United Nations
the present Australian attitude towards it will continue.
Q. How are we voting in the United Nations?
PRIME MlNISTER: We have been abstaining on the procedural issues.
Q. Will we continue to abstain?
X' PRIME MINISTER: When the question of the seating of the
Government arises wve will vote for that Government with which
we have relations. But we are abstaining on the procedural
matters. We did not oppose the inscription of the item. Our
concern in Cambodia is that the people of Cambodia should have a
government of their wish. W'e will do all we can to put an end to
the hostilities and to deter any supplies from outside. It is the
only part of Indo-China where there has not yet been a ceasefire
or an agreement or an accord. This is all the more deplorable
since, for so many years, from the Geneva accords of 1954 until
the invasion of Cambodia by and from South Viet-nam in March 1970
' Cambodia had enjoyed an undiminished peaceful identity.
Q. Mr Crean, did you have the opportunity of discussing the
world inflationary situation with the Chinese?
MCREAN: Yes. Mline have been more in the nature of watching
briefs during these procedures and the Chinese assure us they
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have not got the problem of inflation, but I think they have got
a lot of problems on their plate that I would not like to have.
Q. Did you discuss the question of territorial waters?
PRITE MINISTER: No, we didn't. This is a matter though that the
officials may well have discussed. It is obviously a matter of
very great interest to our two countries. But the Premier and I
didn't discuss it. I believe the interest which we each have are
well understood at the official level. Our ambassador has had
discussions on this matter already.
We have found this a most pleasant visit indeed and the
ambassador, who is in residence here, and all the Australian
officials have enjoyed very much the co-operation of the
Chinese authorities, I believe our visit has been all the more
pleasant and fruitful because we now have such an eminent
ambassador in residence here,.