Published by: World Tibet Network News Friday, December 19, 1997

Submitted by: Tibet Information Office offtibet@ONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU Australia

Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee visited Australia from December 14 to 19, making him the most senior official to visit Australia since bilateral ties improved this year. The visit was shrouded in secrecy. Ms. Alex Butler, President of the Australia Tibet Council, in a press statement, "condemned the almost complete secrecy surrounding the visit..."

Two-way trade between Australia and China totalled about A$ 8 billion last year and the figure is expected to increase in coming years because of rising investment projects from both sides.

The Australia Tibet Council and the Tibetan Community protested during his visits to Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. These peaceful protests were covered by national TV on Prime Time News. In Canberra despite the efforts of three Chinese Embassy officials to ask the Australian security officers to move the protesters away from near the Embassy gate, the police could not intervene as it was legitimate to stand on crown land without obstructing the drive way. So, Li and his group had a close view of the protesters with posters, including our national Flag.

A senior Australian official disclosed a Chinese official's remark that the Tibetans and their supporters seemed to know every movement of Li Ruihuan and his group. He thought the inference was the Australian side had leaked his program schedule.

The Australian Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister met with Mr. Li in Sydney on 17 December. The protests in Sydney were widely reported in the electronic media. It also prompted Mr. Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs telling the media that the forthcoming return dialogue on human rights between Beijing and Canberra (scheduled to take place in Canberra in June 1998) will be more effective than the noisy protests.

It was shown on TV at the same time as the news on the protests. Radio Australia, the external services broadcaster reported Mr. Downer as saying "human rights in Tibet was also discussed" at his meeting with Mr. Li. It also said that more than 50 protesters demonstrated outside the meeting, calling for a free Tibet.

Australia will spend $ 20 million helping China develop its market economy, the Prime Minister announced at a reception in Sydney for Li Ruihuan.

This amount forms part of Australia's overall $ 50 million aid program for China. Australia public sector experts will assist Beijing's development of finance, taxation, enterprise reform, etc.

Both Mr. Howard and Mr. Li spoke of political differences between their two countries but preferred to emphasise economic co-operation.

"It is not always bad to have differences because it is the differences... that render necessary the exchange and co-operation." said Mr. Li.

Prime Minister Howard said Australia's relationship with China was in "exceptionally fine condition."