PM Transcripts

Fax f rom Visit to Singapore and China
I am pleased to announce that I will visit Singapore from 26 to 28 March
and China from 28 March to 2 April.
I look forward to meeting again the Prime Minister of Singapore,
Gah Chok Tong, and continuing our discussions on a range of bilateral and
regional issues. The bilateral relationship with Singapore is strong and my
visit provides an opportunity to build oin that foundation.
The Government is committed to strengthening further the important
relationship between Australia and China. Twenty-five years after the
beginning of the modem relationship between our two countries is an
appropriate tine to look at how we can carry and expand that relationship
into the new century.
In my meeting with President Jiang Zemin in Manila last year, I reaffirmed
my commitment to developing a strong ftrmework for advancing the
relationship. I look forward to discussing with the Premier, Li Peng, and
other Chinese leaders, ways in which we can help Austr-alia's thriving
economic relationship with China flourish even more, and promote our
political links and social ties to the benefit of both our countries and the
region as a whole.
9 February 1997 09/ 82/ 97 10: 57 Pg: