4~ U~ 1JA&
PRIME MINISTER
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 3. OOP. M.-1 FEBRUARY, 1985
FOR MEDIA VISIT OF HU YAOBANG
The General-Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
( CPC) Hu Yaobang is to pay a goodwill visit to Australia
on April 13-18 at the invitation of the Australian
Government. Mr Hu will be accompanied by Hu Qili, member of the
Secretariat and a number of other important officials of
the CPC and the Goverhment.
This will be an important event in the relationship
between AuStralia and China, to which the Government
attaches a high priority.
It will also enable a continuation of the broad-ranging
discussions which I had with the Chinese leadership
during my visit to China a year ago, in the course of
which I met General-Secretary Hu in Shanghai.
The visit will provide the opportunity for Mr Hu to see
something of Australia's development abd-will give the
opportunity for Australia to return the very warm
hospitality which I and other Australian Ministers have
been shown during visits to China.
I expect that our formal discussions will focus on key
issues in the international situation, as well as on the
bilateral relationship, in particular, areas of joint
economic interest.
The issues of regional security, disarmament and arms
control, and East-West relations can be expected to
feature prominently.
2
It is proposed that the General-Secretary visit Western
Australia, Canberra and New South Wales
in Western Australia it is envisaged that Mr Hu
will have discussions with the Western Australian
Government and travel to the Pilbara. I propose to
accompany him during his visit to Western
Australia. in Canberra Mr Hu will meet the Governor-General,
and have discussions with senior Government and
political leaders. He will also address the
National Press Club.
in Sydney Mr Ku will have discussions with the NSW
Government, attend festivities organised in his
honour by the Chinese community in NSW, as well as
meeting some members of the Economic Planning and
Advisory Council, from the business and trade union
fields.
General-Secretary Hu visited Japan in November, 1983.
He has previously visited Yugoslavia, Romania, and North
Korea. His visit to Australia is regarded by the Australian
Government as of great importance and is indicative of
the close and friendly relations which exist between the
peoples of China and Australia.
Born 1915 in Hunan Province, Ku Yaobang has been
involved in the affairs of the CPC since his youth.. He
was elected Head of the CPC in June 1981. In this
capacity Mr Ku, along with Deng Xiaoping, Premier Zhao
Ziyang and other national leaders, has played a key role
in the formulation and implementation of China's
modernisation policies. He is also involved in Chinese
international relations. Mr Hu is married-with four
children.