Published by: World Tibet Network News 97/05/16 23:00 GMT

For immediate release: 16 May, 1997

AUSTRALIA TIBET COUNCIL

In an apparent attempt to prevent demonstrations against him, the

Australian Government has decided not to release to the media any advance

details of the itinerary of China's most powerful economic minister and Vice-Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, who arrives in Australia next Friday, May 23.

Mr Zhu agreed to make the visit in return for Australia's decision not to co-sponsor a resolution on human rights abuses in China and Tibet at this

year's session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Australia had co-sponsored similar resolutions every year for the past six years.

Mr Zhu is reported to have cancelled visits to at least two European

countries that sponsored the resolution ("Australian Financial Review", May 5).

He is the most senior Chinese leader to visit Australia since former security chief Qiao Shi, whose 1994 visit was marred by noisy but peaceful protests in several cities.

The Australia Tibet Council said today that the Howard Government had paid too high a moral price for Zhu Rongji's visit.

"We have not objected to Zhu Rongji's visits to Australia in the past, but the circumstances surrounding this particular visit can only be described as shameful", said ATC National President Ms Alex Butler.

"Australia has not only abandoned one of its most long-standing human

rights commitments but it has also allowed itself to be played off against other

democratic countries in the hope of gaining a temporary trade advantage."

A recent poll carried out by the "Far Eastern Economic Review" (May 8) showed that 77.8% of senior Australian executives surveyed believed that the United Nations resolution, which was sponsored by Denmark, was justified.

Mr Zhu will be accompanied by more than 70 top Chinese business leaders and government officials. He will be visiting Canberra, Western Australia, South Australia, News South Wales and Queensland. He is expected to meet with the Prime Minister and several other senior Ministers, as well as State Premiers and business leaders.

Further information: Alex Butler 03 9499 1841

Paul Bourke 0419 420 526