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-QUSTRLI
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 20 January, 1980
ELECTORATE TALK
This week I had the pleasure of receiving in Canberra, the
Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Ohira.
We had extensive discussions covering a wide range of bilateral,
regional and international matters.
I believe our talks were highly productive.
It is a mark of the maturity and strength of the relationship
between Japan and Australia that a Japanese Prime Minister
can fly here for a brief visit and, with a minimum of formality,
get down to solid and frank discussions on the international,
economic and strategic issues which concern us.
It shows that we have developed an effective working relationship,
over a long period of time, of great mutual benefit.
One of the more important matters Mr Ohira and I discussed was the
expansion of the cultural basis of our relationship, so that the
level of understanding between our peoples can reach the level that
exists between our governments.
Much progress has been made in this area but more needs to be done.
We. are taking a number of initiatives to realise this..._
The Australian Government will be contributing to the extension
of the Australia, Japan and Western Pacific Economic Relations
Project at the Australian National University.
The Japanese private sector is already organising fund raising for
this purpose, and Mr Ohira has indicated that the project had his
co-operation and support.
We are increasing funds for the Australia-Japan Foundation.
We will be pursuing arrangements for working holidays for Australia's
and Japan's young people in each other's countries.
And we are pressing ahead to reduce air fares to a scale comparable
to that already achieved on other international routes out of Australia
In the trading and investment area, I urged Mr Ohira to encourage
greater participation by Japan in the development of Australian
resources and energy supplies, and also in putting the two together in
Australia rather than in Japan to produce Australian-processed products
2
The concept of a Pacific Basin Community was also a major theme of
our discussions.
The Western Pacific area has abundant human and natural resources
and is one of the fastest growing areas in the world.
Japan and Australia will have an important co-operative part to
play as opportunities grow for greater regional co-operation in
development. The Pacific Basin Community concept is a forward looking idea, and
we agreed that as a first step, we will discuss it with our friends
in the region.
If the response is encouraging, Australia would be prepared to
sponsor a seminar for this purpose later this year at the Australian
National University, hopefully one of the first of a series of
such seminars around the region.
I look forward to the further development of this concept if our
consultations with. other countries indicate an interest in taking
it further.
Mr Ohira's visit came at a time of increasing international concern
about events in Iran and especially Afghanistan.
Mr Ohira assured us and I quote " the Japanese position
( on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan) is identical to the position
taken by Australia".
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan represents the greatest threat
to world peace and stability since World War II.
We should especially understand the fact that Afghanistan,-a non-aligned
country, did not prevent it being invaded by the Soviet Union.
And it is absolutely critical that the free world meets the
challenge of impressing upon the. Soviet Union an understanding_
that there are clear limits to its aggression.
If Soviet aggression is allowed to procced unchecked into the
neighbouring countries of Iran and Pakistan, and into the Persian
Gulf area, the consequences for the free world would be momentus:
and disastrous.
Some would argue that this is a " worst case" option, but our advice
is that the prospect cannot be ignored.
It must be anticipated in advance, We must use our resources to
prevent it.
The overwhelming United Nations vote of condemnation of the
Soviet Union's aggression 104 in support, only 18 against
shows the. depth of world-wide revulsion and concern about what the
Soviet Union has done..
The challenge is now, to the NATO countries in particular, but
also to smaller countries and others in the region, to make known
to the. Soviet Union that its ruthless opportunism will not be
tolerated. / 3
-3
We must do what we can to build a free world consensus on these
issues.
With this same objective, I will shortly be making a working visit
to the United States and to Britian for discussions with
President Carter and Mrs Thatcher.
In addition, the Foreign Minister, Mr Peacock, is planning to visit
the ASEA21 countries and India and Pakistan.
We will be discussingwith. these various governments the
present international situation and in particular, the implications
for future security and stability following the Soviet invasion
of Afghanistan an invasion that has given all nations, whether
aligned or non-aligned, cause for grave concern about broader
Soviet ambitions.
If detente with. the Soviet Union is-ever to be restored, and if
nations are ever again to conduct relations with the Soviet Union
on a basis of trust, it can only be through the free world
its small, middle and large members alike showing now the
strength, unity and determination that have characterised itsgreat
achievements in the past.
I believe that in this regard, Australia must not shirk its
responsibilities, and the. Government will discharge these in the
long term interests of all Australians.
" WPM It r N-V -NFV -77-7