Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	WASHINGTON D.C. 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	17/01/84 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	RESPONSE SPEECH AT THE WELCOMING 
			CEREMONY AT THE NATIONAL 
			MONUMENT GROUNDS 




 Mr. Secretary, allow me first of all, on behalf of my wife and members of
my delegation, as well as on my own behalf to thank the Government and the
people of the United States for this kind invitation to visit your
country. I wish also at the outset to express my heartfelt thanks and
appreciation for the warm welcome and the generous courtesies and
hospitality accorded me, my wife and members of my delegation.

2. I have visited your country on several occasions in the past in
different capacities, and have benefitted from discussions I have had with
prominent American leaders from different fields, as well as the
opportunity to see at first hand many of the interesting aspects of the
United States.

All of these past personal experiences have of course helped me immensely
in widening my knowledge and understanding of the United States, and
significantly also in better appreciating the close relationship which
exists between our two democratic countries.

3. My current visit to the United States, Mr. Secretary, is aimed at
reinforcing this friendly cooperative relationship. I, therefore, look
forward to the fresh opportunities during my current visit in Washington
to have free and frank exchange of views with President Reagan and members
of his Government as well as with other American leaders, including those
from the business sector.

4. Coming at a time when the international environment is pregnant with
possibilities of serious tension, conflicts, even unthinkable catastrophes
for mankind, it is my sincere hope that our discussions, aside from
contributing towards a better understanding and appreciation of our
respective policies, interests and concerns, will also help towards
safeguarding and preserving global peace and stability. We hope that we
will be able to bequeath a safer, spiritually and economically prosperous
and just world to the future generations.

5. Both our countries have enjoyed a close and cordial relationship as
manifest in the wide ranging cooperation and collaboration at a variety of
levels for mutual benefit. It is my belief, Mr. Secretary, that my
official visit to the United States will further strenghten the existing
ties of mutual respect and cordial friendship which our two countries
happily enjoy in the many different fields, for the benefit of both our
democratic free-enterprise societies.

Thank you.