Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	:	TOKYO 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	24/12/91 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW 
			CHANCERY AND RESIDENSE COMPLEX OF 
			THE MALAYSIA EMBASSY 




 Your Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
    It  is my pleasure to warmly welcome all of you present
to the official opening of the new  Chancery  and  Residence
complex  of the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo.  We are grateful
for your friendship and support and we are  happy  that  you
are able to join us at this auspicious ceremony.
2.   I am honoured to officiate  the  opening  of  this  new
complex,  the latest and most  costly  of  all  the overseas
missions   owned   by   the   Malaysian   Government.    Its
construction was made  possible  through  the  sale  of  our
former  Ambassador's  residence and land in Hon-Komagome  in
December 1988.    This new complex as well as the  24  staff
apartments in Kami Meguro were built at a cost  of  slightly
over 6 billion Yen (M$114 million).
3.   Although  it  seems  very  different  to be in this new
building, we are really still in the same place in  Shibuya.
Our first Embassy structure was here on this site from 1970.
Then in 1988 we began in earnest to plan a better and bigger
Embassy  to  meet  with the greater amount of work.  The old
Embassy was then demolished to  make  way  for  the  complex
which  you see here.  This growth reflects the importance of
Japan in our bilateral relations and this modern Embassy  is
a symbol of our cooperation and friendship.
4.   The  construction  of  the Complex is a source of pride
for us.   Its design, incorporating a  harmonious  blend  of
traditional  Malay, Islamic and Japanese architecture, will,
I hope, contribute to the architectural diversity of  Tokyo,
thus further enhancing its cosmopolitan character.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5.   Malaysia   and  Japan  have  always  enjoyed  warm  and
friendly relations.  Japan is not  only  Malaysia's  largest
trading  partner and foreign investor, but has also inspired
us in our effort towards economic development.  Japan almost
without exception is a beacon of inspiration to the develop-
ing countries in our region.  Hence we would encourage Japan
to play a leadership role in the economic development of the
Asia Pacific region.
6.   I have faith that the good relationship  between  Japan
and  Malaysia  will  continue  to  grow and the new Chancery
which we see today will be used as a vital facility for that
relationship.   The Embassy will house  the  many  Malaysian
Government  agencies,  now  scattered  throughout Tokyo, and
thus further upgrade its services to the Japanese public  as
well as Malaysians in Japan.
7.   It is now my pleasure to declare this Complex open.