Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, IN VIENTIANE
Tarikh/Date : 16/04/94
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL DINNER HOSTED BY HIS
EXCELLENCY KHAMTAY SIPHAND ONE
PRIME MINISTER OF THE LAO PEOPLE
Your Excellency Mr. Khamtay Siphandone
and Madame Thongvanh Siphandone;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour for my wife and I to have been
invited to visit your beautiful country. We feel privileged
to be here at a time when the Lao people are still
celebrating the Lao New Year. Please allow me then, on this
auspicious occasion, to wish Your Excellency and Madam
Thongvanh as well as the Government and people of the Lao
People's Democratic Republic a very happy and prosperous New
Year.
2. I would also like to take this opportunity to express
my appreciation to your Excellency and your Government for
the warm reception, hospitality and excellent arrangements
accorded to me and my delegation. We are touched by the
warmth and friendliness of your people. Our stay, although
brief, would surely be a most memorable one.
3. I still recall Your Excellency's visit to Malaysia in
December 1992 during which we exchanged views on various
issues of mutual interest. I emphasised then that your
visit would symbolise the beginning of a new era in
bilateral relations between Malaysia and Laos. Our
bilateral relations indeed have been enhanced considerably
since then. There is now better understanding between us.
There is obviously a mutual need to promote cooperation in
various fields. It is with this objective in mind that I
have accepted your invitation to visit this country to
continue the dialogue we had begun. I welcome this
opportunity to engage in further discussions and to exchange
views with Your Excellency. I am very encouraged by the
outcome of our meeting earlier today which provides further
impetus for enhancing bilateral relations between Malaysia
and Laos.
Your Excellency,
4. This visit is, for me, a very significant one. This is
my first visit to Laos. Indeed, this is the first visit
ever by a Malaysian Prime Minister to this enchanting
country. I have included in my delegation Ministers, senior
officials and leading figures from the Malaysian private
sector. It is my hope that they will all have the
opportunity to learn more about your country and to get to
know Laotians as part of our common effort to create better
understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
5. This afternoon, we reviewed the status of our bilateral
relations. We also had a useful exchange of views on
regional and international issues. We agreed that more
could be done to strengthen our friendship and cooperation.
Today, we witnessed the signing of the Bilateral Payments
Arrangement Agreement (BPA) between the two central banks.
This is another important milestone in the development of
economic relations and the promotion of trade between our
two countries. The BPA has proven to be a successful
mechanism for increasing trade among developing countries.
I am confident that the BPA, together with the Investment
Guarantee Agreement already signed in 1992, would contribute
much to our economic relations. Malaysian companies are
also confident of the economic policies being pursued by the
Government of your country. This is reflected in the
business arrangements between Malaysian businessmen and
their Laotian counterparts.
Your Excellency,
6. Consistent with our common desire to work together
closely within the context of regional and South-South
Cooperation, Malaysia will continue to support and assist
Laos in its development efforts. A prosperous Laos means a
prosperous Southeast Asia. And a prosperous Southeast Asia
is an important prerequisite to peace and stability in the
region.
7. This afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit the
Friendship Bridge. More than a magnificent structure, it
symbolises friendship and cooperation between our two
countries. The bridge represents not only an avenue for
communication and commerce between Laos and Thailand, but
also a vital link between different parts of Southeast Asia.
The bridge could be the precursor to more vital linkages
that will bring countries in the region much closer in a web
of interlocking trade and economic relations and other
activities.
8. I foresee that with the opening of the Friendship
Bridge, the recent completion of the North-South Highway in
Malaysia, the building of a second linkage between Malaysia
and Singapore, the improvement of highways in Thailand and
the future construction of major road networks in Laos,
Cambodia and Vietnam, there would be an increased flow of
goods and people among the countries concerned.
Your Excellency,
9. Laos is now an observer in ASEAN. I believe Laos has
gained better insights into ASEAN's organisation and
structure, and the ASEAN way of doing things. The path is
now clear for Laos to participate in ASEAN programmes
involving cooperation in various fields. Malaysia would
most warmly welcome Laos when it decides to eventually
become a member of ASEAN. I would again reiterate that
ASEAN would be strengthened by the membership of all the ten
countries of Southeast Asia.
10. Malaysia and Laos also share a deep commitment towards
the pursuit of international peace and security. Malaysia
feels strongly that serious efforts should be made to ensure
the continued stability of the East Asian region. As such
it is important that all countries cooperate fully to ensure
prosperity and progress for the peoples of this region.
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