Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	LIMA, PERU 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	13/10/95 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE STATE LUNCHEON HOSTED BY H.E. 
			PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI 



           Thank you for your very kind words  of welcome.  First
    of all let me say how delighted I am to be in Peru today.  I
    especially  remember,  Mr. President, your visit to Malaysia
    in 1991 and the long discussion we had on matters of  mutual
    interest.    I recall leaving that meeting with a sense that
    Peru  was  about   to   experience   a   great   period   of
    transformation and renewal.

    2.    In  recent years Peru  has featured prominently in the
    international press.   Happily the  reports  have  not  been
    about  bombs or terrorism but about economic growth, surging
    exports, increasing foreign investments and a new  sense  of
    purpose  and  direction.    My  delegation and I are greatly
    encouraged to visit Peru to seize this moment to  forge  new
    and  enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between our
    two countries.

    3.    Peru's recent achievements in the  political, economic
    and  social  fields  have  been  widely acknowledged and are
    indeed commendable.  Peruvians have clearly indicated in the
    elections last April that you deserve the  credit  for  this
    and  should  be  given  a mandate to lead Peru into the 21st
    century.  I wish to take this opportunity  to  reiterate  my
    heartiest congratulations.

    4.    We do not have a history or tradition of long years of
    economic    cooperation  or  commercial  ties.    Ours  is a
    relatively new relationship.  What others have taken decades
    to develop,  we must try to accomplish in a few short years.
    It is therefore  imperative  that  we  strive  for  tangible
    economic  cooperation,  for  stronger  trade  ties and for a
    deeper  level  of  political  and  cultural relations.  I am
    convinced that we can achieve this.  Following your visit to
    Malaysia in 1991,  our bilateral trade increased from  under
    US$2 million to  US$70  million last  year. The potential is
    clearly there and we must press  ahead  to exploit it to the
    fullest for our mutual benefit.

    5.   Today we have jointly taken a major step forward in our
    relations with the signing of several important  agreements,
    covering trade, the promotion and protection of investments,
    air services, the partial abolition of visa requirements and
    cultural  cooperation.    These  agreements  would certainly
    provide  a   suitable   framework   to   encourage   greater
    cooperation between our respective peoples.

    6.    In   the   final  analysis,  the  success  of economic
    cooperation between nations rests upon  the  decisions  made
    not  by the government sector but by the private sector.  To
    this end  I  have  encouraged  several  prominent  Malaysian
    entrepreneurs  to  join  me on this visit.  It is my sincere
    hope that together with  their  Peruvian  counterparts  they
    will seriously explore new opportunities for business.  I am
    delighted  that  two  private  sector cooperation agreements
    have also been  signed  between  National  Confederation  of
    Private   Enterprise  Institutions  (CONFIEP)  and  Malaysia
    South-South  Association  (MASSA)   and   between   Malaysia
    External  Trade  Development  Corporation  (MATRADE) and its
    Peruvian counterpart.  To our respective private  sectors  I
    say  that  the  future  of  the  relations  between  our two
    countries is largely in your hands.   The responsibility  is
    great but I am sure that you will rise to the challenge.

    7.    Such  tangible  economic  linkages  will also  provide
    further impetus to cooperation among  developing  countries.
    There is much that we can do for one another.  There is much
    that we can learn from each other.   We  each  have valuable
    experiences to share. Already a quiet revolution is underway
    that has led to more substantive  forms of cooperation among
    developing   countries   themselves.    This  is  indeed  an
    appropriate  development.   In just  a  few days' time,  the
    Non-Aligned  nations  will  be  meeting in Cartagena to take
    stock  of  its  successes  and   ponder   over  its   future
    direction.   There  are  those who say that the Movement has
    outlived its usefulness and  that  it ought to be disbanded.
    I however believe that  for as long as developing  countries
    are disadvantaged and  discriminated  by unfair policies and
    practices,  for as long as our views  are  ignored  and  the
    poorest among us are  marginalised,  for  so long will there
    be a need to work together for our common good.

    8.    Many  countries   are  quick   to  condemn  developing
    countries  when  we do not live up to their expectations and
    definitions of democracy.  But they have only to  look  into
    the  faces of people who yearn for the opportunity to make a
    decent living, who desire to dream great  things  for  their
    children  and  to  live in peace and stability to understand
    that what works for one country may not  work  for  another.
    There  are times when tough decisions have to be made.  That
    is what leadership is all about.   I  congratulate  you  for
    standing  firm when confronted by those in the international
    community who are so  free  with  their  criticisms  without
    understanding that democracy is not an end in itself but the
    means  to an end.  And the end that we seek is stability and
    freedom from fear.   If democracy in its  liberal  form  can
    deliver  that, well and good.  But if liberal democracy only
    results in insecurity, fear and poverty, then democracy must
    be tempered with responsibility so that it delivers what  it
    is  supposed  to deliver.  You, Mr. President, have dared to
    face reality, to take the bull by the horns.  The result  is
    there for all to see.  The people of Malaysia salute you Mr.
    President  and  they  join me in wishing Peru great years of
    progress and development ahead.

    9.    Finally, Mr. President, please allow  me to once again
    express  my  appreciation  to  you and  the  Government  and
    people  of  Peru  for  the  very  warm welcome that you have
    extended to my wife and I and members of my delegation.