Zenko SuzukiMr. Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I must begin by expressing my gratitude to you, Sir, and your Government for your wonderful hospitality, starting with the splendid welcoming ceremony on which the sun shone brightly—a happy omen for my visit. The warmth of my reception has been most moving.
My programme has been full of interest and stimulus. I have particularly welcomed the opportunity to see something of Japan's scientific and industrial excellence. Everywhere I have been received with the courtesy and kindness which are typical of your country. [end p1]
Our discussions today on the many areas of common concern have been most valuable. You and I have met earlier in London and at the Economic Summits in Ottawa and Versailles. I enjoyed those meetings but we need to meet more often. For our outlook on the world is very similar. We face similar threats to our ways of life and in confronting those threats alliance and friendship are important to us both. The need for political consultation between our two countries, not only at Prime Minister level but at all levels, has never been greater. [end p2]
Your speech, tonight, Mr. Prime Minister leaves no doubt that there is a firm basis for that consultation. You said so much with which I agree. You referred to the close friendship between our royal families. This is a great bond between our two countries.
You were kind enough to say that Japan had learned a great deal from our science and technology which had contributed to your country's outstanding success. We in turn have a great deal to learn from the way in which you have embraced the latest [end p3] technologies, and turned them to industrial employment and profit. You have proved that the net effect of new technology is to create jobs.
You also referred to our bilateral trade relations. We discussed this question in our talks, and I hope to speak about it at greater length in my speech to the Press Club tomorrow. But I know, Prime Minister, that you have taken a personal interest in ways of expanding Japanese imports of manufactured goods.
I would like to say how much we appreciate your efforts. [end p4]
Tonight, I should like to say a brief word about a particular aspect of our trade relations, namely exchanges in investment. Such exchanges are an important contribution to the stability of the world economy. Indeed, our own historical experience suggests that a country which wishes to keep its overseas trade must necessarily invest overseas. If it doesn't, it will lose its markets as the demand for protectionism becomes more insistent. I want to make clear that Japanese companies which invest in the United Kingdom are very welcome, and we believe we have much to offer them.
— Politically, we are one of the most stable countries in Europe—a vital point for any investor. [end p5]
— We provide access, through our membership of the European Community to a market of 270 million people—and make no mistake about it, we shall continue to be a member of that Community.
— Unlike many of our competitors we have secure energy supplies—oil, coal and gas.
— We have a first class reputation for scientific research and invention.
— The recent record of labour relations in the private sector is excellent, as many companies which have newly invested in Britain well know. [end p6]
— We are a welcoming society and greatly value the increased employment and opportunity which new investment brings.
These attractions will remain. They are enhanced by the long term policies on which we have embarked. They are policies for a decade
— Our inflation rate is falling and is expected to fall further.
— Interest rates have fallen rapidly especially in the last nine months. [end p7]
— Our labour laws are slowly but surely being transformed.
— we are freeing the economy from the many artificial restrictions under which it has laboured for past decades.
These reforms, and many more, now make Britain an ideal country for foreign investment. Many Japanese companies can testify to this. Page missing [end p8]
YKK, the earliest Japanese investor, have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary in the UK; and the achievements of Sony—one of eight Japanese companies established in Wales—were rewarded in 1980 with a Queen's Award for Export Achievement. And now we are delighted to welcome NEC who, this year, will start operations at their semi-conductor plant in Scotland—an operation [end p9] which, in money terms, is the largest single Japanese investment in a manufacturing enterprise in Europe. The record of Japanese companies and management in Britain is excellent and is greatly appreciated by all our people. [end p10]
Indeed, Mr. Prime Minister, the world over the reputation of your country for excellence and industry stands high. We have long admired your achievements in art and design, so triumphantly displayed in the glorious Japanese Exhibition in London which delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors including, if I may say so, me, my Denis Thatcherhusband, my family and my staff—for we all have wonderful memories of it. The Japanese taste for beauty, respect for tradition and cultivation of the virtues of family life and loyalty evoke—a ready response among our own people. [end p11]
In your speech, Prime Minister, you called for a new era in Anglo-Japanese relations. I believe that the special qualities of the people of Japan and of Britain are such that we can work with confidence to develop a practice of regular and fruitful consultations and of wide-ranging co-operation to our mutual benefit.
Someone once said that there are two types of person—one who confronted with a problem tries to evade it; the other who instinctively looks for a solution. Mr. Prime Minister, my disposition is to solve problems. [end p12] You have paid me a delightful compliment tonight by quoting an English proverb: “Where there is a will there is a way” . I would like to respond by quoting a Japanese proverb: “Makanu tane wa haenu” . “If you don't sow seeds nothing will grow.” We have sown the seeds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations. Let us tend them together so that there grows a stronger and stronger partnership between us in solving the problems which face our peoples, and the wider world.
(Toast:) To His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and the health, happiness, and success of Prime Minister Suzuki