Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR (K.L)
Tarikh/Date : 03/06/90
Tajuk/Title : THE DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE HEADS
OF DELEGATION OF THE MEETING OF THE
SUMMIT LEVEL GROUP FOR SOUTH-SOUTH
CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION
Your Excellencies, The Heads of State and Heads of
Government;
Excellencies;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
We have come to the end of our meeting. It has been a
very hectic three days. For me personally and for Malaysia,
playing host to such a distinguished gathering of world
leaders has been a great honour and privilege. It has also
been a great learning experience for us. The cultural and
linguistic diversities alone posed a number of challenges
for us as organisers. I hope we have met some of these
challenges to your satisfaction. The experience we have
gained from organising this conference has convinced me more
than ever that cultural, linguistic and even political and
social differences are not the insurmountable barriers to
cooperation that they are made out to be.
2. More importantly, I hope you will leave Malaysia with a
sense of accomplishment. We have gathered together from all
over the South, across many thousands of miles, with a re-
solve to begin a new process of South-South consultation and
cooperation. In the intimacy of a somewhat smaller gather-
ing, we have got to know one another better and have come to
understand one another's aspirations and concerns. Although
the problems we face may differ in both manner and gravity,
we have felt the need for united and coordinated responses.
This will provide an important basis on which we can carry
forward the process of cooperation.
3. At Carcosa Seri Negara we have also explored the prac-
tical measures for cooperation. This was a major objective
of our meeting. I believe we have all come away from the
meeting with a clearer idea of the way ahead. All that re-
mains is for us to infuse these ideas with the political
will to enable them to become a reality. Judging from our
discussions these last few days and indeed your very pres-
ence here, I would say that the political will is already
very much in evidence.
4. To be sure there were, of course, areas of disagree-
ment. I think such disagreements are natural and to be ex-
pected, particularly at any first meeting. We have
different domestic needs and demands. We also have varied
experiences that propel us to seek solutions in different
ways. I have never subscribed to the view that there is
only one way and only one solution to any problem. What is
important however is that we have begun a process towards
harmonizing our search for solutions and of seeking ways to
bring to bear the collective weight of the South in support
of policies which individually we could not hope to pursue
with success.
5. This meeting, which we all hope will become a regular
feature, will also oblige us to travel to other parts of the
South. For most of us, the cities in the South would not
normally be on our itinerary. The importance of pressing
our case and seeking relief from the pressures we face with
the North, in the North, leaves little time for visits to
the South. It is my hope that these summit level meetings
will now set the pattern for greater inter-South exchanges
and dialogues. I think we have all sensed how much there is
to be gained from expanding such contacts.
6. As Chairman, let me use this occasion to also reaffirm
that we had no secret agenda or hidden motives in convening
this meeting. Though we are leaders of nations in the South
we did not meet as leaders of the South nor as its appointed
spokesmen. As I said in my opening address, we are simply a
group of like minded countries who came together to see
whether we can begin a process towards tangible and mutually
beneficial South-South cooperation. It is our hope that
this process will be infectious and lead to a revitalization
of that much sought after cooperation. Coming from all cor-
ners of the South and being individual members of nearly ev-
ery political and economic grouping in the South from Asean
to the Carribean Basin Initiative, I think we are well
placed to encourage this.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
7. Your stay in Malaysia has been all too short. You have
probably spent more time inside conference rooms than out-
side. I wish there was time for me to show you more of
Malaysia and introduce you to its people and cultures. I
hope you will give me the opportunity of welcoming you back
to Malaysia for a longer and more relaxing visit some day
soon. Till then, I wish you a safe journey home. It has
been a real pleasure having you here. We have benefited
greatly by your wisdom and experience. I hope you have en-
joyed your stay here as much as we have enjoyed hosting you.
Thank you.
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