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PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE, 1981
ADDRESS AT MEXICO BANQUET, MEXICO CITY
I thank you for your gracious welcome and I am delighted to..,
be visiting Mexico as Prime Minister of Australia.
More and more Australians are becoming aware of Mexico's
vibrant culture and dynamic growth. We know Mexico as a
significant country, characterised by independence of mind
and'-a determination to exercise its own judgment.
You are a non-aligned country, but you do not belong to the
non-aligned movement. You are one of the world's major oil
producers, but you do not belong to O. P. E. C. In a world of
bloc politics, Mexico treasures its individuality and in doing
so gives an example to the world.
Over the years, Australia and Mexico have each had their
own preoccupations. We have each bent our energies to the
building of our own nations and to our traditional.
relationships, to the regions of predominant and immediate
concern to us. On opposite sides of the world's largest
ocean, we have seemedia long way apart. But now there is a
change. With the many new and emerging Pacific states, and
with growing opportunities and markets, a sense of identity
and community is arising. All this, and more, points towards
greater co-operation, and stronger links among countries in
and around the Pacific.
The Pacific connection alone would be reason enough for our
two countries to take steps now to make up for lost time.
But there are also other factors drawing us together at
this time. Australia and Mexico have been working towards artL
agreement on science and technology, and I hope this will be
a concrete step in developing our relationship. Both our
countries are rich in energy; you in oil, we in coal, uranium
and natural gas. So we both enjoy the privileges and share
the responsibilities which come with a relative abundance of
energy resource You are rightly determined that Mexico shall
not be, or seem to be, merely an oil exporter. The importance
of energy as a world issue cannot be over-emphasised, and your
initiative for a world energy plan is a step towards concrete!
progress in this area.
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Australia and Mexico are also both middle-ranking countries,
and we both take moderate and independent views. I believe
there is a role for us to play on issues of peace and stability
and more especially on issues of development and progress.
It would be wrong for us to keep silent, to say nothing, when
a contribution we may be able to make may help clarify issues
or strengthen resolve and when every incremental gain is valuable.
We have a responsibility to our own peoples for their security
and well-being, and an obligation to our children for the
future. It is not enough to leave that responsibility and
obligation to the great powers alone. We must exercise our
own minds and judgments. We are indeed able to give support. to
views and approaches we believe to be right, and such action caln'
accord with an enlightened view of our interests. Countries
such as Mexico and Australia can speak to great powers without
being overwhelmed and to smaller states with genuine understanding
of their position. Initiatives that may be taken by countries
such As ours are less likely to introduce competition, less likely
to arouse suspicion and misunderstanding, than are those of
great powers. So while we must not exaggerate our contribution
we must be willing to do what it is within our power to do.
Our two countries have accepted responsibilities in relation to
issues of world poverty and development, and the problems here
are among the most pressing which face mankind. Later this year
you will be hosting a Summit Meeting of developing and developed
countries at Cancun. This will be an important meeting and I
congratulate you for your initiative and determination in making
sure that it will happen. Shortly before that meeting, Australia
will be hosting a meeting of the Heads of Commonwealth countries
in Melbourne. That meeting, like yours, will discuss issues
affecting relations bettween developed and developing countries.
I suppose, Mr. President, that you are sometimes asked, as I am,
what is the point, what is the purpose of Heads of Government
Meetings? I am sure you would agree that the very fact that Heads
of Government meet is of value. For it is through such meetings
that they can establish a relationship, an understanding of how
others will react, of what may be done together, of how consensus
may be established on priorities, and how conflict may best be
avoided.
If the meetings in Mexico and Australia later this year can achieve
these results, their worth will already be established.
May I suggest that these meetings, which will
together be attended by some 55 Heads of Government representing
two thirds of the world's population, may achieve somewhat more
than that.
If these meetings can achieve agreement that there is a real
problem of massive proportion that we need to do something about;
if these meetings can instil a life, a vigour, a purpose into
what is called the North-South dialogue; if they can produce agreement
that the issue is urgent and real, not only from every humanitarian
and moral standpoint, but also from enlightened self-interest; and
if a commitment towards doing something can result, then both
meetings will have more than repaid the efforts put into them.
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I sometimes wonder whether nations address North-South issues
with sufficient energy, whether there is not a feeling that
the problem of poverty is not new and that whatever we do will
be insignificant. But if we can all recognise that there is
a massive problem which compels our attention, a problem which
affects how hundreds of millions of people live or die, then
surely we will ask ourselves," what can we do, individually and
collectively?" Some things can be done by national Governments, but there is
also need for efforts from the whole international community.
Countries who ask what they can do will find much that they
can do to help other nations. For example, both our countries
are pastoral and agricultural, and both have tropical
and desert areas. Much of the knowledge and experience we have
could benefit others, if we can find ways to transfer it.
We have a capacity to develop that knowledge through research,
to point to practical things that can be done, to improve
peoplep's standards of living. I hope that the agreement between
our countries on science and technology, which I have already
referred to, may play some part in that.
My visit is a very short one. But even a fleeting visit is
bound to leave a strong impression of Mexico's vitality and
maturity. I hope that more Australians will come here and
stay longer. That will be a good thing because there is no
substitute for direct contact between people. I hope that all
the travel will not be one way. In particular, I hope that you
will find it possible to pay a visit in the not too distant
future. I cordially invite you to do so. When you come, I
hope that your impressions will be as favourable and warm as
those with which I shall leave your country.
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join
me in a toast to the President and people of Mexico.
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