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PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
DOORSTOP, FAIRBAIRN RAAF BASE
14 APRIL 1994
E& OE PROOF COPY
J: Mr Keating, were you happy with the overall outcome of the trip?
PM: I think in trade and foreign policy terms it couldn't have been better.
Starting with the handing over of the Friendship Bridge between
Thailand and Laos, I think it was the cause of the introduction of a new
relationship for these two countries which, of course, have got a long
history together. In many respects close features to their history, plus
separated now for to long and I think that has been changing, and as a
consequence of the Bridge I hope a lot of things will happen there,
And the visit to Thailand was, I think, important to talk to the Thai
Government, to get to understand a bit about their view of the region
and their economy, doing more with Australia. This is the second
largest economy in ASEAN, there is much more we can do there. And
the visit to Vietnam really couldn't have been better. The discussions I
had with the Government had all the weight and quality that one could
ever have hoped for.
J: Were you a little disappointed though, with the domestic storm
PM: Well, no, those things they pass through, what matters is the weight
that sits under them and the relationship with the Government of
Vietnam, with the President, the Prime Minister and the General
Secretary, the meetings I had there couldn't have been better. This is
a country which has done it hard for a very long time and is now trying
to come up, to lift their people out of poverty and to take a part in the
region and Australia is there helping.
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We have got nearly a billion dollars worth of investment there, we just
doubled our aid budget to them, and I think they appreciate the
interest which Australia has in them. So, in terms of three countries in
the region where we have had a long association, particularly in
Thailand and now with Laos and Vietnam, I was very happy with the
meetings, the visits, the quality of the discussions, the genuine
friendship and the understanding.
Thank you.