Japan, N.Z. move towards harmony

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 6

Japan, N.Z. move towards harmony

NZPA Tokyo fhe bitterness and atmosphere of crisis which permeated bilateral relations between New Zealand and Japan 12 months ago now seems to have dissipated.

After intensive talks in Tokyo with Japanese political and industrial leaders, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Trace (Mr Taiboys) is able to cite evidence of progress in the relationship between the two nations. These include Japanese plans to buy New Zealand dairy products valued at SSM for use in aid programmes to Afghanistan, - ’he Sudan. Indonesia. and Thailand; progress towards acceptance of New Zealand pine as a house-building timber in Japan: and evidence that the Japanese Government has resisted domestic farm lobby pressure to reduce dairv imports. An aviation agreement is also in the wind.

Another example of Japanese willingniess to at least consider New Zealand’s views is an offer hPrime Minister (Mr Masayoshi Ohira) to raise Well'”r>ton’s opinions when leaders of the world’s top industrial

nations hold summit talks atj Tokyo in June. During his 30-minute meet- I ing with the Japanese leader,, Mr Taihoys said that there had been a mutually benen-j cial improvement in the relationship between the two countries, “but I reminded; him that we still have aj problem with trade.” Mr Taiboys said that he) had raised the prospect of; more regular discussions; between Cabinet Ministers of i the two countries: Mr Ohira; had agreed it was desirable! that Minister met more often. I

Mr Taiboys said that no; conflict existed because of Japan’s surplus of dairy! products and New Zealand’s! demands for increased access!

for butter. If the price to. 1 consumers for butter was!! reduced, more butter would 1 be sold in Japan. I; He said that Tokyo did not! intend to introduce additional!; restrictions on dairy imports.;: Nothing had emerged at;: the talks which would lead:, him to believe Japan would) import butter, but there was! I an encouraging acknowledge-)' ment that international opin- . ion had influenced the Japan-!, ese Cabinet in deciding to reject pressure from farmers); to reduce imports because of): domestic dairy surpluses. Mr Talbovs believes that; New Zealand is possibly mov-i: ing towards becoming an im-) nortant supplier of timber for!; the Japanese home construe-!; tion industry. ! I After talks with building); industry executives, Govern-!; iment architects, and en-j gineers, he said that there:, Was a “will” within the in-!< 'dustry to use New Zealand! pine. “They said that as long as!■ the quality was right and the) timber was put to the right) use there would be wide op-p portunities to sell,” Mr Tai-* bovs said. New Zealand officials said: later that Japan at present:, got most of its imported! house-building timber from) Canada, but in the talks with ; Mr Taiboys the Japanese i building industry representatives had said they would like to have an alternative , available. Two factors were delaying i exports of building pine toil Japan; the need for Jananese), regulations to allow the im-l portation of timber with a:

lesser ring width, and New Zealand’s not having a tim-ber-grading system acceptable to the Japanese. The establishment of an aviation agreement providing for direct flights between New Zealand and Japan is expected this year. Talks on air services between Auckland and Tokyo will take place soon between Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines representatives. Mr Taiboys said that the aviation agreement might be settled by the end of the year. Mr Taiboys said that his meeting with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Sonoda) was “very useful and rewarding.” They had discussed Indo-China and agreed on the dangers of super-Power intervention. “We both believe that re- [ cognition of the independence of Kampuchea is the basis for settlement,” he said. Thirty-five top executives ) of Japan’s financial commun- , ity joined Mr Taiboys in j Tokyo yesterday for a cereimonial signing of New Zealand’s first syndicated yen loan, valued at SNZ23OM. Champagne toasts were drunk after the signing ceremony, and Mr Taiboys and businessmen later mingled at a lunch organised by the companies participating in the loan. The New Zealand Government was encouraging new industrial development, and details of simplified and more libera! policies to encourage overseas investment would be announced soon, : Mr Taiboys said.