SPEECH BY THE PR;' Inr MINI6Trh OF AU6T_' nLIA, THE HON. E. G.
WHITLAM, AT THE DINNEr GIVEN AT 8.00 PM
WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY 1974 BY U NE VIN, . WIPAN OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL AND PRIME MINISTER OF THE
SOCIALIST REPUBL1C OF THE UNION OF ] BURMA
Although this is not my first visit to the
Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, I come here
on this occasion as the first Australian Prime
Minister to visit your country. In so doing, I
acknowledge with gratitude the warm and generous
welcome accorded to my wife and me, and to our
party. We look forward, Mr Chairman, to welcoming
you and your gracious wife to Australia. I hope
these visits will serve as the basis for further
fruitful development in the range and nature of the
relationship between our two countries. I believe there
are grounds for confidence that, because we now share
more common interests than we did before, there will
emerge a more intimate aid substantial relationship
between Australia and Burma.
For our part, we are seeking to chart a new
course for Australia in its relations with the countries
of Asia. By adopting a more independent Australian stance
in international affairs, by striving to turn Australia
away from a military orientation in its relations with
South-East Asia and by trying to remove the stain of
racialism from our policies, we hope to achieve for
Australia a new standing as a distinctive, tolerant and
co-operative nation, not only in Asia but in the world.
In support of these objectives we have shifted
the emphasis of our continuing involvement in Asia,
and especially in South-East Asia, from one dominated
by ideological distincti(_ ns and military alliances to
one based more on encouraging security through regional
co-operation, on facilitating trade with our near
neighbours on a mutually beneficial basis, and on
promoting economic developnwnt through constructive
aid pro,_-rams where these are wanted and where our own
resources and skills can be usefully applied. We see
a greater range of contacts through tourism,
education and culture.
Such contacts, we believe, will.. oontribute
significantly to furthering our understanding of
one another. I also believe that Ministerial and
Parliamentary visits, like those exchanged recently
between Australia and Burma, are of great value to
both of us, and I would hope to see ouch visits
extended. I stress that we do not seek to impose any
unwanted culture or alien forms upon our friends. Nor
do we seek to provide economic assistance where this
is not welcome or useful1. While we deqire to live
more intimately with Asia than we have in the past, we
accept that in many ways the extent and nature of this
new relationship is not ours alone to determine.
Because we seek to retain our own freedom of choice and
to develop our own independence and distinetiveriea,. vre
appreciate the aspirations of othere to do the same,
In coming to Burma at this time I appreciate
that you are in the middle of an election an historic
election consequent upon the introduction of a new
Constitution. I am aware that the introduction of the
Constitution and the consultations with the people
in the course of the drafting process represent the
culmination of your long-held aspirations for the
evolution of a form of government in Burma suited to the
needs of the country and its people, arid'. that for more
than two years it has impoised a heavy burden on you and
your Ministers. I congratulate you on the successful
outcome of the national referendum, on the Constitution
held last December. In the sare month there was a
Referendum in Australia on Constitutional changes, I may
say, Sir, that I envy you in the success you achieved
in your Referendum. I
Australians have-long admired the way Burma
has maintained its independence by its own efforts
and by the skill, determination and spirit of sturdy
self-reliance which have enabled you to negotiate your
way through so many difficulties createdi by the
interference of outside countries in the affairs of
the region. We have noticed that in the United Naticns, and
in other councils, Burma has spoken eloquently of its
opposition to imperialism, colonialism, nuclear weapons
testing, racial discrimination and apartheid.* You have
stressed the fundamental importance and hcre I quote
your distinguished Foreign Minister " of promoting the
progressive establishmnent of and a universal respect for
the role of law". These are all matters on which my
Government, too, has deep convictions. They are matters
in which my Government has taken important policy
initiatives in the past year.
I believe Australia and Burma share a number
of common objectives in ou immediate region. We seek
to avoid destructive confrontations aLrl to b. ing about
constructive co-operation. We hope to see evolve, in
time, a truly regional community without ideological
overtones and free of Great Power rivalries. We seek
a durable peace in South-.. East Asia in partnership
with other nations of the region. I understand the
name " Rangoon" is derived from Burmese words meaning
" end of strife". Our goal, indeed, is a South-
East Asia free from strife. It will no doubt take
time to achieve that goal and the rest of our common
objectives in the region and elsewhere. In the meantime,
however, I look to the consolidation of our bilateral
relations, believing that such consolidation will
bring us closer to the realisation of our wider goals
and aspirations. I am happy to have your assurances of the
useiulness of the Australian Aid Program in Burma.
There will be an annual inarease in the size of that
program. The Australian Government has pledged itself
to increase the level of its financial development
assistance to .7 per centof Gross Domestic Product by
the end of the decade. We also intend to increase
the percentage of our aid given through multilateral
programs. Burma's developing relationship with the
World Ba. ilc and the Asian Development Bank means that
in this area also we will be able increasingly to
contribut6 to Burma's programs for economic development.
I give these assurances in t Uhe full awareness
that there will be ne-w claims on Aastralia2 especially
from the emerging countries of the S3outh Pacific area,
and that shortages of energy and r -Iourcos will raise
uncertainties about the economic and financial future.
Australia and Burma are both rich in natural resources.
Burma is in the ha-, ppy position o-L hO. ving full
national control over its resources. liy Government
faces the urgent task of progressively resuming control
over the development of Australia's mineral resources,
a large part of which are now owned by foreign companies.
At the same time we are developing policies for the
balanced development of our resources and to control
their sale in accordance with our national interests
in a world where energy is scarce.
Mr Chairman, I have deeply appreciated the
frank and fruitful discussions we have had during my
visit. I believe we have established that there are
no problems between . our two countries, but rather
that there are opportunities for growth and development
in many aspects of our r.,; ationship. Especially I would
hope to see positive development in the areas of trade,
aid and cultural contacts.
Australians have much to learn from the rich
cultural and philosophical heritage that belongs to our
near neighbours. By learning more about this heritage
we will be better placed to gain from it, so that our
perception of the needs and interests of these countries
will be deepened and enlarged. My Government will do all
it can to promote the flow of ideas and experience from
the ancient civilisations of our neighbourhood. My visit
to Burma so brief, yet so memorable will equip us
better for that task. Thave had the opportunity to
6.
hear your views and to explain our own. I shall leave
with a better understanding of your policies, your
culture and your people, confident that on the basis
of this new understanding we will forge a rich,
valuable and enduring friendship between our two
countries. w A* * K