P.M. urges ‘total relationship’ with Japanese trade partners

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 1

P.M. urges ‘total relationship’ with Japanese trade partners

NZPA staff correspondent Tokyo Japan has been urged by the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, to adopt a new perspective of its bilateral relationship with New Zealand.

In meetings with leading Japanese politicians, and in speeches over the last three days, Mr Muldoon has also emphasised the growing importance of the smaller, newly independent South Pacific States.

Yesterday he spent 60 minutes with his Japanese counterpart, Mr Zenko Suzuki, and emerged satisfied that the two countries are in accord on most international issues.

In a major speech to a group of top Japanese businessmen, Mr Muldoon talked of the need for a “total economic relationship” which should reflect the realities of a permanent par-, tnership. He told the businessmen that it must remain a cause for considerable concern that New Zeaaccess to the Japanese market for livestock products, particularly dairy, should be subject to so many restrictions and disabilities.

“If in any country food growers are paid very high politically determined prices for their production, thus forcing, the consumer to pay; even higher prices, no-one can be surprised if consumption either declines or remains suppressed or if supply exceeds excesive demand and ' . surpluses appear?’ Mr Muldoon said. “It seems to me,, as I consider Japanese consumption of dairy products and meat, and the effects of high prices.on consumption, that the Japanese producers, food consumers; and processors are all losing out.

“So is New Zealand.” Mr Muldoon said New Zealand understood Japan’s

concern ior security of food supplies. “However, you must wonder whether a major and growing distortion in economic terms is any real insurance against vulnerability to external disruption of food supplies,” he said.

Mr Muldoon later said that Mr Suzuki had shown considerable interest in his assessment of the situation in thh South Pacific.

“What 1 am trying to do is to raise the consciousness of the leaders of some of these larger countries to the fact that there is a very large number of newly independent States in the South Pacific,” he said.

*lt is most important that .they stick together, and that they are politically and economically stable, because if they are not the whole strategic balance in that part of the world will alter.”'

Mr Muldoon sai.'. he had also suggested to Mr Suzuki that there was an opportunity for Japan to be helpful in the devel jment of the Pacific Forum Line. He had not specified how Japan could be helpful, but had told Mr Suzuki that West Germany had “chipped in with a couple of ships.”

“There is an opportunity to assist with the Forum Line, or indeed with the . economic in* frastructure of. these South Pacific: .States,”, he said, A relatively- small amount; of aid. could' do a tremendous . amount of good. Of other international matters discussed with Mr Suzuki, Mr Muldoon said:

On China: “Both Japan

and New Zealand take the same view of the new policies of China. They are beneficial, and the West should co-operate in every way.”

On South Korea: Mr Suzuki : cemed “very reIxed” about the new Administration in South Korea. “It appears that Japan will co-operate with Korea and sees the transition has been accomplished successfully.” On A.S.E.A.N. (Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore Malaysia and Thailand): “Again, there is little between us. . . He agrees with us that A.S.E.A.N. is stronger and more cohesive than it has ever been.”

On Kampuchea: Mr Suzuki had expressed a view that he hoped an inter.ational conference could be set up with the Vietnamese and other interested parties which could lead to a settlement. On the United States: “As far as the Reagan Administration is con-

cerned, he seems again to take a very similar posi* ■ tion' to ourselves. They have rather more confidence that the Reagan Administration will enunciate policies and stick to them. That has been our experience up.t? now.” Mr Muldoon and Mrs Muldoon paid a couriesy visit on Emperor Hirohito and other members of the Japanese royal family yesterday. They presented the Emperor, who is an authority on marine biology, with a book on New Zealand marine life. Earlier report, Page 2