Aussie PM to reaffirm commitment to Asia
Aussie PM to reaffirm commitment to Asia
CANBERRA (AFP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard will
stress his government's commitment to strengthening ties with
Asia during his first bilateral talks overseas as leader next
week, a government official said yesterday.
"The basic message for the Prime Minister will be to affirm
his commitment to the region," the official said.
Howard departs on Monday for the Indonesian capital Jakarta,
where talks with President Soeharto and senior ministers are
expected to focus on both sides' plans for regional and bilateral
economic integration.
He will then fly to Tokyo, where he will hold extensive talks
with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and other ministers, and
pay a courtesy visit to Emperor Akihito.
Government officials said Howard was well aware of the
significance regional leaders would attach to his decision to
visit the region before heading further afield, especially the
choice of Indonesia and Japan for his first bilateral talks
overseas.
His government has already sent Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer and Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer to Jakarta twice,
while Defense Minister Ian McLachlan has also held high-level
talks in Indonesia.
At least three government ministers, including Treasurer Peter
Costello, have visited Japan since Howard's coalition government
won office in March.
"In places like Japan and Indonesia they'll be very keen to
hear what the prime minister has to say about the approach he and
the government are going to take to the region, and to those
countries," the official said.
"One of the top priorities for him will be to establish a good
working relationship with both President Soeharto and Prime
Minister Hashimoto. For Australia it is very important to have
close relationships (with those leaders)."
In both capitals Howard has planned several private dinners
and meetings with leading local business figures.
The trip was originally scheduled for August, but was
postponed after Howard's wife Janette required surgery -- making
his early September trip to the South Pacific Forum in the
Marshall Islands his first overseas foray as prime minister.