Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	STOCKHOLM 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	09/04/85 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER GIVEN BY HIS EXCELLENCY 
			(HE) OLOF PALME, PRIME MINISTER 
			(PM) OF SWEDEN 




Your Excellency Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden; Distinguished
Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to thank you, on behalf of the members of my delegation, for
the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to us during our visit
to your beautiful country. I have looked forward to this visit to Sweden
and I believe that this visit will foster better understanding as well as
strengthen the existing close relations between our two countries.

2. Earlier we have had the opportunity to have a very useful exchange of
views on a wide range of bilateral matters as well as on regional and
international issues of mutual concern to us. I am glad to note that we
share a common will to expand the scope and substance of our bilateral
reations, and we appreciated each other's perceptions and points of view
on international issues. I have no doubt that the rapport that exists
between our two countries will further contribute to create a mutually
beneficial relations between Malaysia and Sweden.

3. It has been quite some time now that Malaysia and Sweden have
established relations with each other. The development of these relations
has been smooth and steady. This is not surprising, considering the fact
that we share many similarities. Malaysia and Sweden are both
constitutional monarchies whose major priorities are to strive towards the
welfare and continued prosperity of our peoples. Both our countries adhere
to the free enterprise system. Within our respective regions we are each
committed to policies of close regional cooperation between like-minded
neighbours. Moreover, the friendly relations between our two countries are
further reinforced by our common commitment to the ideals and aspirations
of the United Nations.

4. I am, therefore, optimistic that my visit will provide the opportunity
for both countries to build upon this sound basis for further
cooperation. In this regard, there exists considerable scope for us to
expand our collaboration, particularly in the economic field. As a country
that is still in the process of development, Malaysia is fortunate to
possess considerable amounts of natural resources and it is a producer of
a variety of raw materials. While these are the necessary elements for
economic development, they are incomplete without an able workforce and
higher level of expertise to utilise them efficiently. An important aspect
of my visit to your country is therefore to witness for myself the
advanced level of technology that Sweden has achieved invarious sectors. I
am certain there is much that we can learn from Sweden, and many areas
that we can cooperate with you. In this regard, we are appreciative of the
support and willingness on your part to provide opportunities for
Malaysians to come here and study specific aspects of Swedish technology
and for the assistance that Sweden has extended to us.

5. Genuine friendship, however, cannot be one-sided. While looking towards
Sweden for its expertise and advanced technology, Malaysia also has a lot
to offer to your country. As a fast developing nation, Malaysia provides
many opportunities for those who have the know-how and the means to
participate in our economic development. We are also situated in the
centre of a region that is consistently achieving a high level of growth
and there are many possibilities for joint collaboration for goods and
services for the Southeast Asian market. Increased participation in
Malaysia will also mean that Swedish products will be more familiar to
Malaysians. Several Swedish products are already well-known in
Malaysia. Indeed, in our bilateral trade Sweden enjoys consistent trade
balance in her favour. I might add here that this is one aspect that both
countries must try very hard to rectify.

Your Excellency, 

6. In this context, allow me to touch on a persistent problem that
Malaysia faces in the effort to improve her trade balance with
industrialised countries. I am referring to the problem of trade
barriers. Much of our effort to search for new markets are frustrated by
tariffs, quotas and other restraints that hamper free trade. In many areas
goods from countries like Malaysia do not provide competition for the
higher technology goods from industrialised countries. Since free
international trade is the vehicle of growth for all countries, Malaysia
will always be in favour of dismantling trade barriers on a world-wide
scale. Sweden's trade policy as well as its efforts to eliminate trade
barriers within the context of GATT and UNCTAD is, therefore, especially
welcomed and appreciated by us.

7. Malaysia, like Sweden, plays an active role in the effort to develop
close regional cooperation with her immediate neighbours. Our partners in
the Association of South East Asian Nations or ASEAN share a common goal
in our efforts to achieve economic development and assure the continued
prosperity of our peoples. Similarly, within your own region, Nordic
cooperation is an active vehicle for close relations between the
governments and private enterprises across national borders. We note the
many facets of your cooperation that has evolved over several years. Such
cooperation as Sweden and her Nordic partners have achieved, provides a
valuable example for other countries and regions to emulate and
contributes towards regional stability and resilience.

8. In this regard, Malaysia and her partners in the ASEAN countries are
still faced with the unresolved problem of Kampuchea. The Kampuchean issue
is a serious obstacle to peace and stability in the Southeast Asian
region, as well as to the realisation of what ASEAN is trying to establish
in our region, namely, a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality or ZOPFAN
free from foreign interference. Malaysia is convinced that the only
durable solution to the Kampuchean problem is through a comprehensive
political settlement, and we will continue to be resolute in our efforts
to search for such a political solution. Your support of Kampuchea is
therefore deeply appreciated.

9. Just as the question of peace and stability is important to us in
Southeast Asia, we appreciate that it is equally important to Sweden to
continue its efforts to promote detente between East and West, which also
takes into account the interests of smaller countries. Sweden's policy of
neutrality has indeed contributed to the process of detente. This is
evident from Sweden's active role in the Conference of Confidence and
Security-Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe which has enabled
that forum to achieve considerable progress. This also contributes towards
the lessening of tensions not only in Europe but the world at large. In
this connection, Malaysia is glad that the strategic arms reductions talks
have been resumed in Geneva. Malaysia shared the concern felt by all
countries over the suspension of the talks on arms reduction, and hopes
that the resumed talks will continue until agreement on a comprehensive
disarmament is reached.

Your Excellency, 

10. Malaysia has for some time now addressed itself to the problem of
drugs, which has become international in character and knows no national
boundaries. It is a creeping menace of alarming proportions that permeates
every level of society and threatens to destroy the social fabric of that
society. The threat of drugs gives rise not just to problems of a criminal
nature, but also has security ramifications that can undermine the
survival of a nation. For this reason, Malaysia has legislated harsh laws
to curb the drug menace. However, no country can hope to tackle this
problem on its own. It requires serious and concerted effort at the
international level by all countries and international agencies
concerned. Malaysia therefore would like to call on all countries to
cooperate in a concerted effort to prevent the production and trafficking
of drugs.

11. Another area of concern to Malaysia is the question of Antarctica. It
is the last unsettled frontier in the world and it remains our view that
all Mankind has a legitimate interest in the continent. Antarctica should
not be the exclusive preserve of only a few nations. Malaysia is ready to
cooperate with the member states of the Antarctica Treaty with a view to
finding an acceptable system wherein all nations may cooperate to preserve
that vast cold continent and sustain its environment until such time when
exploitation of its resources can be done without pollution and damaging
the ecological system.

Your Excellency, 

12. Allow me to say once again that it is indeed an honour and a pleasure
for me to make this visit to your country. I am certain you share my
conviction that the future holds many opportunities for deep and lasting
cooperation and friendship between our two countries.

13. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I invite you to rise
and join me in a toast to the good health of His Excellency Olof Palme,
Prime Minister of Sweden, and to the continuing friendship between
Malaysia and Sweden.