Call for end to fighting

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33813, 9 April 1975, Page 18

Call for end to fighting

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) jSINGAPORE, i* April 8. t New Zealand audit Singapore today called 1 for an end to the fight-Ji iing in Indo-China to facilitate genuine nego-lt tiations, according to a 1 joint statement issued : in Singapore. ■ ' The Singapore Prime Min- * aster (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) is I 1 in New Zealand at the invita- '■ ’tion of his New Zealand 1 counterpart, Mr Rowling. The statement said the twod 'leaders noted with grave concern the upsurge of conflict! 1 in Indo-China and the devas-! 1 tating effect this was having . 1 on the lives of millions of innocent people. “The two Prime Ministers! agreed that the immediate' 1 — --— .—.— ,

need was for the fighting tojl end, in order that genuine a negotiations could be under- p taken, and to facilitate the 1 task of providing relief and I rehabilitation for those dis- s placed by the conflict,” the statement said. They agreed that the key to the future in Asia and the t Pacific lay in regional cooperation. Thev observed that’ it would be vitally important! in the longer term for all the! countries of Indo-China to be more involved in the affairs of the community of Asian and Pacific nations. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Common-! 'wealth five-power defence arrangements, and agreed on the need for regular bilateral ! consultations on the role and 1 future of the New Zealand 1 force based in Singapore. Britain, New Zealand. Australia, Malaysia, and Singa- ! pore are grouped in the de- 1 fence arrangement. According to the statement. Mr Lee expressed appreciation for the practical assistlance New Zealand had provided to Singapore in various fields, including defence, as! ■ well as general economic and social development. The two Prime Ministers t (also noted the progress made I by the Association of South-’ ■ East Asian Nations, which.! (they said, had established it-i ’self as the most effective re- . jgional grouping in Asia. They welcomed the recent; I steps taken to forge closer j

links between New Zealand and A.S.E.A.N., which comprises Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the statement said. It also noted the two Prime Ministers were pleased at the “friendly and stable relations” between their coun-

tries, and noted with satisfaction the absence of any seri!ous differences affecting the bilateral relationship. They reaffirmed their reI solve to encourage every opportunity for closer cooperation and consultation in fields of common interest, the i statement added.