No easy path for Pacific community—Mr Fraser

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 14

No easy path for Pacific community— Mr Fraser

NZPA Sydney The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) has said that there may have to be a psychological revolution before a Pacific economic community can become a reality. Mr Fraser spoke at the thirteenth century general meeting of the Pacific Basin’s Economic Community, held at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. The object of the meeting was to devise a plan for the development of a Pacific economic community, and Mr Fraser gave qualified support to the scheme.

He said that the AsiaPacific region had experienced three revolutions in recent decades — political, economic, and technological. “For the Pacific community to become a realiy rather than a partly realised aspiration, a fourth revolution may well have to occur — a psychological one,” Mr Fraser said. “We would have to think differently and feel differently.” He said that the region encompassed both superpowers and mini-States, the most developed countries in the world and some of the least developed, and countries with

widely differing ideologies and cultures. “Not all the countries in the region have entirely friendly feelings towards each either,” Mr Fraser said. “There are special' cases such as Taiwan, and perhaps Hong Kong, to consider.” He alluded to China’s organisation and the effect this might have on the region. and the necessity to consider the 10 LatinAmerican countries that bordered the Pacific. Mr Fraser said that one difficulty would be ensuring that the interests of groups such as A.S.EA.N, were protected.

It was necessary to avoid an inward-turning community which would weaken the commitment, of countries within the region, including Australia, to a liberal international economic community. There was also the need to accommodate the economic super-Powers while making sure that any new regional grouping did not just become another rich man’s club. ■Mr Fraser said that Australia supported the idea of the community, but would put its emphasis firmly on the need for a thorough extended examination of the concept;