TEL o
PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, TIM HON P J KEATING, MP
OPENING OF THE NAGOYA CONStlATE
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the opening of the Austral ian Consulate in
Nagoya. The Consulate is a result of our decision to increase " on
the ground" resources in the regional economies of Japan.
By the end of 1992, in addition to Tokyo, Australia will
have representation in Sapporo, Sendal, Osaka, Fukuoka
and here in Nagoya.
This new office demonstrates the significance the
Australian Government accords the Chubu region as a
Xeystone for the development of the Australia-Japan
relationship. It is a very close relationship, built primarily in those
decades when Australia supplied much of the raw material
for J ' industrial expansion.
Our destini n the modern era have been inextricably
linked.
The partnership is continuing to grow and diversify.
We remain suppliers of raw materials and primary prqiuc,
but the composition of-our ex-p6rt-s is changing.
For the l8st four years Australia has been the tenth
largest supplier of manufactured goods to Japan well
ahead of many other industrialised countries.
We are determined that this trend towards manufactures_
will continue.
We are determined to do business with the world on a much
broader basis than before.
we are determined on our integration in theAija. PA= iic
region the most important part of the world, aa we see
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Japan is central to this view of ours, and will remain
so-
Strong strategic alliances have already been rorged
between Chubu and Australia,
There is no better example than Toyota, which has
recently decided to build a new -6if-pIant in Victoria, to
invest ñ in a parts warehouse and distribution centre, and
establish a training centre in New South Wales.
We are well aware of Chubu. region's pre-eminence In
advanced technologies, such as industrial ceramics, and
we look forward to stronger exchanges in such areas.
This Consulate will help that process. it will be
staffed by a bilingual Austral an and Japanese team with
extensive business and cultural experience In bath
countries, We are sure that with their efforts we can expand our
relationship in unprecedented ways.*
Ladies arnd gentlemen, our economic relationship Is
dependent on the depth of-65ir cultural understanding.
significant cultural links between Chubu region and
Australia already exist, particularly through the Sister
city and Sister Port relationships.
Mayor Nishio has, I know, visited Australia, and Governor
Suzuki has made two visits.
There have been many cultural exchanges, including, I
understand, the presentation of koalas, ) ookaburras and
eucalyptus trees to the city of Nagoya.
Like the Japanese people, we are very fond of our native
fauna and flora they are symbolic of the unique
splendour of our natural environment.
This Consulate is also symbolic of our desire to deepan
our relationship with Japan, and Chubu in particular.
Fond as we are of koalas, we are fond of business too.
And culture. Very fond of them.
And fond of Nagoya and the Chubu region.
so I ask you to join re in celebrating the opening of
Australia's Nagoya Consulate and our friendship and our
mutual aspirations which it will symnbolise and serve.
Thankc you
NAGOYA 23 September 1992