Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
Tarikh/Date : 15/02/93
Tajuk/Title : BANQUET HOSTED BY THE PRIME
MINISTER OF PAKISTAN MUHAMMAD
NAWAZ SHARIF
Your Excellency Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,
Prime Minister of Pakistan;
Begum Kalsoom,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of my wife, the members of my delegation and
on my own behalf I wish to thank you and the Government of
Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality that we have
received since our arrival in your great country.
Honourable Prime Minister,
2. But for a short spell, the relationship between our two
brotherly countries has always been warm and friendly. I am
happy to note, in particular, that, in recent years, our
economic relations have been developing steadily.
Malaysia's overall trade with Pakistan has expanded in the
last two years, averaging US$440 million in volume. Of spe-
cial importance is the fact that Pakistan is Malaysia's
largest single buyer of palm oil in this region. This is a
recent phenomenon following the decrease of soyabean oil im-
ports by Pakistan.
3. In 1992, a Memorandum of Understanding was concluded
with Pakistan to provide US$100 million credit to buy
300,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia. The Malaysian
Palm Oil Promotion Council has agreed to provide 2,200
square feet of exhibition space to exhibit products from
Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur for a period of two years. Follow-
ing the successful visits of Ministerial and business deleg-
ations from Malaysia last year, joint ventures with
Pakistani partners are being proposed to establish inte-
grated palm oil storage and refining complexes in the port
cities of Pakistan. In the long term, we are looking to
Pakistan as a potential gateway to the palm oil markets in
Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics, using
Pakistan's air, sea and road links with these states. Mean-
while, we are also studying the possibility of our national
airline, MAS, operating additional frequencies into Pakistan
and beyond to strengthen the air links between our two coun-
tries.
4. We have a modest technical cooperation programme which
enables developing countries to avail themselves of assist-
ance in areas where we have some expertise. There is much
our two countries can do for each other in sharing what we
do best. An important area of our cooperation, in this re-
spect, is the training received by students under Pakistan's
technical assistance programme and we hope to see this
programme expanded, especially to accommodate our require-
ment for medical training.
5. Due to the rapid development of our industrial and
plantation sectors, Malaysia has been experiencing labour
shortages. As a result a small number of Pakistanis have
come to Malaysia to work. We will continue to look to
Pakistan as an important source of human resources.
Honourable Prime Minister,
6. Malaysia and Pakistan have worked together in support
of each other on many issues of common concern. In the
United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the
Organisation of Islamic Conference, we have shared common
positions on such issues as the Environment and Development,
the Palestinian problem, the Iran-Iraq war, Apartheid, Dis-
armament and Antarctica. On regional issues like Cambodia
and Afghanistan, we have been supportive of each other's po-
sition. Malaysia was also especially pleased to host the
CHOGM in which Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in
1989. I would also like to take this opportunity to express
our appreciation for the very effective leadership demon-
strated by Pakistan as the Chairman of the G-77.
7. Pakistan has always played an important role in world
affairs. As a member of the UN Security Council at this
critical time in world affairs, Pakistan can do much to ad-
dress the new challenges that are being faced by the world
as a result of the end of the Cold War. We share the con-
cern over actions taken by a few powerful countries to pro-
mote their own interests without taking into account the
views of the international community. Instead of even-
handed initiatives, we see UN mandates exploited for narrow
self-interest as in the case of the recent unjustifiable at-
tacks on Iraq, while the horrors of the situation in Bosnia
remain unaddressed.
8. Malaysia appreciates Pakistan's role in promoting peace
and stability in Afghanistan. We sincerely hope that that
war-ravaged country will soon be able to get down to the
enormous tasks of reconstruction and development that it is
faced with.
9. We hope that the problem of Kashmir, which has
bedevilled the relationship between Pakistan and India for
over four decades, can be resolved amicably through peaceful
negotiations in accordance with United Nations Resolutions
and the Simla Accord. Pakistan and India, working in tan-
dem, would be a catalyst for the advancement of the whole of
South Asia.
Honourable Prime Minister,
10. We have followed with interest the development of the
Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in the South Asia
region. With the inclusion of seven more countries of Cen-
tral Asia, an important economic nexus has emerged which
will be crucial in guaranteeing the development and stabil-
ity of this region. We welcome closer collaboration between
ECO and SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooper-
ation) with ASEAN. To strive for greater unity and cooper-
ation among developing countries, we need to maintain a
dialogue among ourselves in order to promote solidarity, to
strengthen each other's efforts to advance ourselves and to
have a common response to the critical economic developments
that are taking place in the world, especially the emergence
of powerful trade blocs.
Honourable Prime Minister,
11. Our two countries have always enjoyed close and
brotherly relations. We look forward to working closely
with you to further strengthen our political and economic
relations, as well as enhancing our mutual efforts for world
peace and equality in international relations.
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