Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	BEIJING, CHINA 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	20/11/85 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE WELCOMING BANQUET HOSTED BY H.E. 
			ZHAO ZIYANG, PREMIER OF THE STATE 
			COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE 




Your Excellency Zhao Ziyang, Premier of the State Council of the People's
Republic of China; Your Excellency Wu Xueqian, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and State Councillor; Your Excellency Minister of Distinguished Guests; 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

At the outset let me express my sincere appreciation for your very warm
words of welcome and for the gracious hospitality that you and the
Government of China have accorded my delegation and I since our arrival in
Beijing a few hours ago. Your warm hospitality and the excellent
arrangements you have made for us provide the perfect setting for what I
hope will be a fruitful and successful visit to your country.

2. I must confess that ever since my brief stopover in Beijing some 6
years ago, I had intended to return to China for a longer visit so that I
could learn, firsthand, more about China and its people, its aspirations
and concerns. I am delighted that I now have this opportunity to do so. It
has been said many times that an important pre-requisite for mature and
stable relations amongst states is better mutual understanding. I am
determined to do my part towards this end. Bearing in mind that mutual
understanding is a two-way process, I hope I could also share with you an
update on Malaysia's views on several issues.

3. Excellency, Malaysia-China relations are now over eleven years old, at
least in the formal sense. While we have undoubtedly made some progress in
strengthening bilateral ties, I think we both agree that much more could
have been done and needs to be done if we are to realise the high
expectations we both had at the onset of our formal relations.

4. In analysing the reasons behind the lack of sustained progress in our
bilateral relations, we must face squarely the inescapable conclusion that
our inability to completely resolve certain core bilateral issues to
mutual satisfaction have had the effect of impeding the overall growth of
relations. Your Excellency and other leaders of China have assured us on
many occasions that some of these issues are 'left-overs from history and
that time will resolve them'. While admittedly time is a great healer, I
hope we will not allow history to hold the progress of our relations to
hostage. As history marches on, so must we. I realise that in a country
where time and history go back hundreds of years, it is quite natural to
take a longer perspective. However, I believe that given contemporary
compulsions and needs, a country cannot afford to be mired and shackled to
historical legacies and fidelities.

5. In the absence of satisfactory solutions to these issues, close
scrutiny appears to be given to our relations only during high-level
visits such as this. Instead of becoming a continuous process, the
development of our relations has hinged upon the visits that we
make. These irregular inputs have, not surprisingly, been insufficient to
sustain qualitative movement in our relations. We must therefore resolve
to change this pattern in favour of a more dynamic mechanism for on-going
improvements in our relations. In working out the framework for such a
mechanism, I hope we could give priority to resolving the core issues
which have retarded growth.

6. We must not however be content to merely seek to resolve our
differences. The absence of differences in itself will be insufficient to
create an enduring and stable relationship. In fact, it could lead to
indifference. Rather even as we move to resolve existing problems, our
thoughts should be on the future and on how we can add substance to our
relations.

7. To my mind, economic cooperation and trade offer exciting
possibilities. It is my hope that just as politics dom inated the first
decade of our relations, economics will come to dominate the next
decade. This task is all the more important when one considers that trade
barriers are going up in many parts of the world. As part of the wider
international trend to seek more equitable trading relationships, Malaysia
and China need to address themselves not only to such issues as a more
balanced trade and greater direct trade but to the very fact that our
bilateral trade has been declining since 1980. We must ensure that pious
statements followed by inaction or indifference, which have characterised
other bilateral trade relationships, do not also come to characterise
Malaysia-China trade.

8. I am happy to note that some steps, albeit tentative at this stage, are
being taken to expand our bilateral economic relations. Malaysian and
Chinese companies are exploring new areas for mutual cooperation while
both sides increasingly value our bilateral trade. In a sense I hope my
visit will add stronger momentum to this process. I am sure you will not
have failed to notice the rather large private sector delegation I brought
with me. They are the captains of Malaysian industry and commerce. They
bring with them vast experience and technical know-how in specific areas
where Malaysia is internationally recognised as a leader. They are keen to
play their part in giving more substance to our bilateral relations and
they have the full support of my government. It is my hope that in the
days ahead they will have the opportunity to seriously explore every
avenue for economic cooperation and establish ties and contacts for on
going mutually beneficial economic activities that would serve to enhance
the relationship between our two countries.

9. Excellency, Malaysia and China share a common desire for peace and
stability within the region so that all members of the region,
collectively and individually, could get on with the more urgent task of
socio-economic development. Unfortunately, the complicated regional
situation, in particular the situation in Kampuchea, represents a serious
distraction. Those of us who genuinely desire peace and stability must
renew our efforts to find solutions to these vexing regional political
problems on the basis of adherence to the principles of respect for
sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other's
internal affairs. Our objectives should be security and stability for
all. However, at the same time, we should also make clear that we will not
allow any country to hold the region's prosperity to ransom because of its
own self-centred ambitions. We should make clear that regional prosperity
will march on, with or without them.

10. Over the next few days, I hope we could use the opportunity of this
visit to seriously take stock of our relations and, in a frank and
dispassionate manner, exchange views on all these bilateral and regional
issues. I am convinced that if we can hold this course of dialogue and
consultation, and act in a positive manner, much can be achieved in the
years ahead. I wish to reassure Your Excellency that Malaysia is committed
to seek good relations with China as with all countries, on the basis of
the principles of peaceful coexistence. Though the task ahead may not be
easy, it is a worthy endeavour not only for our respective peoples but
also for the peace and stability of our region.

11. Excellency, before I conclude, may I once again express my sincere
appreciation for your warm hospitality in welcoming us to China and for
the excellent arrangements you have made for our visit. I also fully
reciprocate your hope that my visit will further enhance the development
of good and stable relations between our two countries.

12. May I now invite you all to join me in a toast to: - the good health
of His Excellency President Li Xiannian.

- the good health of His Excellency Premier Zhao Ziyang.

- and to the friendship between Malaysia and China.

Thank you.