The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • 2

2 THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD MONDAY MARCH 31 1997 A CTwnn 6I can assure you that not going to a sort of a slash and bum approach to tariff policy certainly not 9 John Howard BU5 IQ Mixed signals on tariff policy number of occasions in the past and I am happy to repeat it here I can't envisage Australia without an effective and Mr Howard was quizzed by an Australian businessman Mr Ben Qarsen at a dumber of commerce lunch about his approach to die reduction of car tariffs a sensitive issue in Australia and overseas Mr Qarsen said his company the Shanghai Chinks Automotive Components Manufacturer like many joint ventures in China depended cm the viability of holding companies in Australia With die Government's own advbogr body the Productivity Commission recommending tariffs in the car industry be wound back to negligible levels even faster then agreed to by APEC countries there was obvious interest in Shanghai as to how die Government would respond Mr Howard said the objective was to decide in the overall' interests of die Australian community and the domestic economy will also be very mindful of the importance of preserving a strong motor maiu ufacturing capacity in Australia" he said have said on a By MICHAEL NUETT inShantfiai The Rime Minuter is continuing to give mixed signals on tariff policy telling a business audience here yesterday the Federal Government would not adopt a and approach to the issue Mr comments come only two days after he preached the benefits of free trade to a similar audience in Singapore imploring other Asia-Pacific nations to their nerve" by not slowing the removal of trade barriers Ending the Shanghai leg of his China trip Mr Howard also: Indicated resistance to attempts to save Radio Australia from planned ABC cutbacks Signalled he might raise in discussions with Chinese leaders in Beijing the plight of the jailed Australian businessman Janies Feng and Opened a new line in his attempts to persuade China to increase business ties despite diplomatic strains of die put year that i mmniitiwnt to BhwKring trade was die linchpin of APEC can assure you that not gang to a sort of a slash and bum approach to tariff policy Certainty not On die other hand I don't thinlr it's something that can be reduced to and if the iiWmate of in die of i you have to keep that goal in front of Mr Howard said the option of Radio Australia had originally emerged from die ABC and was being considered in framing die Budget While he understood the importance attached to Radio Australia die services offered by it had been replaced to a large degree by new technologies PAGE 8: Features Business leaders seek deals in a growing economy chance encounter From Page 1 itsdf was a reason not to observe something privately that I Hke to observe at Easter he said Mr Howard yesterday concluded his two-day visit to Shanghai a prelude to the more important Bejjing teg of his trip with a luncheon sponsored by the China Australia Chamber of Commerce at die swish Shanghai Hilton and a rushed car-convoy tour of tourist landmarks of this city of more than IS million It has been a relaxed visit vnth Mr Howard able to persuade his wary advisers to at kast include sane sightseeing (although they appear to have vetoed any plans to visit the Great Wall uncertain of its interpretation back home) On Saturday night Mr Howard walked along Shanghai's famous Bund port area startling thousands of locals who traditionally visit the area at the weekend and are unaccustomed to seeing a flying wedge of televirion camera crews Mr Howard was quick to claim to have been although most of those present probably neither knew nor cared who he was Mr Howard later told a business audience that the response of the people had made him think he was back in Australia in February 1996 refighting the election campaign rather than sampling the sights of Shanghai By DAVB IABUE Herald Correspondent in Bering The most high-powered Australian business delegation to arrive in China has joined the Prime Minister Mr Howard on Ms six-day visit la a bid to expand commercial ties with the fastest-growing economy The 18 bn si ness heavyweights including Western Mining Corporation managing director Mr Hugh Mor- Sa News Limited managing rector Mr Lachlan Murdoch Commonwealth Bank managing director Mr David Murray ANZ Banking Group chairman Mr Charles Goode and National Mutual managing director Mr Geoff Tom-Hnson are accompanying the Prime Minister on his round of talks with Chinese leaders Mr Howard scheduled to meet President Anna Zemin Premier Li Peng and economic policy boss Vice Premier Znu RongjL Australian officials have confirmed that the business leaders will have opportunities to meet the Chinese leaders during the planned banquets and dinners There has been strong speculation that China will use Mr visit to announce the award of a banking licence for the ANZ to begin operations in China This licence had been delayed while diplomatic ties between Canberra and Beijing were strained over Australia's dealings with Taiwan the Dalai Lama and the US during the first year of the Howard Government The business leaders with Mr Howard win be hoping that the present thaw in ties will allow new opportunities for Australian companies after exports to China jumped about 38 per cent to nearly S3 billion in the first nine months of last year National Mutual anxious to gain access to the Chinese life insurance and superannuation market white manufacturing mining and building materials compaaies will be looking for increased sates and opportunities to expand their operations in China Mr Murdoch is expected to continue News efforts to rebuild ties with China alter his tether Mr Rupert Murdoch offended Benina with a prediction that global media technology would undermine nil totalitarian governments PM attacked over stand on human rights to exert influence over to secure human rights improvements but said Mr Howard's approach would show Chinese leaders that human rights were low on hb list of priorities Mr Howard has said is all pretty said Amnesty '(London-based Asia director Mr Rory Mungoven an Australian Australian governments have gone on about the value of quiet diplomacy in dealing with human rights in China but where are the results? die past two yean die Australian Government has stressed a policy of of China but it has fallen into the trap of appeasing China on human rights" Mr Mungoven said Australia had been eager to make China observe international rules governing trade and regional security and said human rights should be and parcel of that He said the jailing for 1 1 years last November of tending dissident Wang Dan had effectively silenced die dissident movement in China Quire continues to execute International human rights groups have attacked the Rune Minister Mr Howard for his approach to the rights issue on his visit to China saying it and misguided Mr Howard will meet the Chinese Premier Mr Li Peng and the President Mr Jiang Zemin in Bejiing today and tomorrow and has indicated he will take a cautious approach on the issue of human rights abuses in China Speaking to journalists in Singapore on Friday Mr Howard gave no assurance he would even raise the subject He said it was important to focus on what Australia and China had in common If the subject of human rights came up in hb talks with Chinese leaden he would use methods of discumion and Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Asia said die approach was typical of a recent softening on the Chinese rights problem by western leaders seduced by Quire's economic hires a softening which had paved die way for a worsening of conditions in China They said Australia-was well more people than die rest of the world combined white rights groups also iphin of damp downs on religious freedom and on campaigners for Tibetan autonomy The Hong Kong-based director of Human Rights Watch Mr Robin Munro said Mr comments had been a disappointment" after die low-key approach to rights taken by the United Sates Vice-President Mr A1 Gore who visited China last week Mr Munro said the shift by world leaders to such a low-key approach on human rights had seen die obliteration of die dissident movement in China leadership is getting the message loud ana dear from foreign govenunenls that there is no significant international price to pay for the repression of peaceful he said Australia doesn't want to link human rights and trade then fine But for heaven sake give human rights bsues the independent weight they deserve in me bilateral relationship not have a whitewash and pretend tint this almost invisible rote in human rights having call this number 1800 052 052 Introducing One Number from Telstra A new advance in telecommunications which links your home office mobile and pager numbers with one number A One Number So you can be an easier person to reach by your customers colleagues and family Because when they dial your unique Ielepath 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