PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 8 NOVEMBER 1988
The Premier of China, Mr Li Peng, will visit Australia from
14 to 20 November at the invitation of the Australian
Government. His visit will be one of the most important of
this Bicentennial year.
I am delighted that Mr Li has chosen to visit Australia as
part of his overseas tour since his appointment as Premier
in March. His visit will serve to strengthen the very warm
and friendly ties which have been built up between our
countries over a decade and a half, and which have always
been a priority for my Government.
Australia and China have much to offer each other. In one
aspect, this is demonstrated by our two-way trade, which has
grown fourteen-fold in the past fifteen years, and by the
steadily increasing interest in bilateral investment.
But there are other links which, while less visible, provide
an enduring basis for continuing harmony between our
nations: the links of education, scientific cooperation,
cultural exchange and personal friendship. I value highly
the friendships that I made during my visits to China as
Prime Minister in 1984 and 1986 and visits to Australia by
Premier Zhao Ziyang in 1983 and General Secretary Hu Yaobang
in 1985.
In my discussions with the Premier in Canberra on 17 and 18
November I shall be emphasising the importance Australia
attaches to its relations with China and my hope that we can
expand and deepen the contacts between our countries. I
look forward to exchanging views on major issues facing the
international community and, in particular, to discussing
new developments in our region.
Premier Li will be accompanied by five colleagues of
ministerial rank: the Foreign Minister, Mr Qian Qichen;
the r. nister of Metallurgical Industry, Mr Qi Yuanjing; the
Minister of Labour, Mr Luo Gan; the Minister of
Aeronautics and Astronautics Industry, Mr Lin Zongtang; and
the Director of the China Rural Development Research Centre
of the State Council, Mr Du Runsheng. The Premier's party
will also include several Vice Ministers and a team of
senior officials.
The Premier will visit Perth, the Mount Channar iron ore
joint venture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia,
Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. A STRAL1, A
AUSRALA
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PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA8 NOVEMBER 1988
CORRECTION In second paragraph of Press Release on the Premier of
China's visit to Australia, please read as " his first
overseas tour". 3307