Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	HARARE, ZIMBABWE  
Tarikh/Date 	: 	05/11/96 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	UPON ASSUMING THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF 
			THE SUMMIT LEVEL OF THE G-15  



1.    I  believe my colleagues and other Representatives would
want  me to express how greatly we appreciate the warmth  that
the  people  of Zimbabwe have shown towards us throughout  our
stay  in  this beautiful country, and how indebted we are  for
the  generous hospitality which have been showered upon us  by
the Government of Zimbabwe since our arrival.

2.    Let me also congratulate you, Mr. President, for the job
well-done during your tenure as the Chairman of the Group  for
the period of 1995-1996.  Your tireless efforts and commitment
to  moving  the  Group forward, especially in the  context  of
South-South  Cooperation, deserve our praise and commendation.
You  have also made tireless efforts to draw the attention  of
the  developed countries, especially the G-7, to the  problems
of the developing world.  We thank you for that.

3.    Together, we have discussed the challenges  posed  by  a
world  that  is changing rapidly, be it in terms of  politics,
economics  or  technology.   The  flow  of  information   made
available via satellite and through the cyber space has indeed
made  the world a small place.  Some say this is the era of  a
`new  global partnership for development'.  Is this for  real,
or  is  it a mere subterfuge for domination by those with  the
necessary  might  and resources.  The global  partnership  for
development can only be played, and must be played,  with  due
regard  being  paid to handicaps as much as to  level  playing
fields.   Pitting  midgets against giants  makes  nonsense  of
level fields.

4.    We  may indeed be living in a world of bigger challenges
and  uneven opportunities.  In fact, in the economic  context,
countries  of  the world are showing bigger gaps  in  term  of
income  disparities as compared to a decade ago.  Drastic  and
persistent  efforts would be needed to arrest the slide  among
the developing countries.

5.    We see a lot of double standards and selectivity at  the
international  level,  as the dictates  of  domestic  politics
overrule justice and humanitarianism in international affairs.
At  the  same  time,  we also find division and  fragmentation
among the developing countries.

6.    However,  we  should not despair because the  potentials
exist  for us in the developing world to exert our rights  and
ensure  a  better  future  for ourselves.   In  the  G-15  for
example,  the  Committee on Investment, Trade  and  Technology
(CITT)  is the platform for economic cooperation among  us  in
the  field  of  investment  and trade  exchanges  as  well  as
technology  sharing. Concrete programmes of action and  better
flow  of  information in these fields must be worked  out  and
implemented efficiently.

7.    We  thank  you for leading us through a very  successful
Summit.   Your enthusiasm and boundless energy was  infectious
and  has  been an inspiration to us all.  But above all,  your
wisdom  and  determination has given us great  hopes  for  our
Group.  You have outlined the vision for the future of the  G-
15.

8.   Over the past two days, we have successfully addressed  a
pertinent issue facing us today.  The issues that I am talking
about is the current international trading system and how  the
developing countries can promote trade among them.  Indeed, we
have overcome our first hurdle by agreeing to work closely  as
a  group, in exercising the rights of the developing countries
in  promoting  our  trade  and development  interests  and  in
ensuring   that  these  are  incorporated  into   the   future
international trade agenda during the Ministerial  Meeting  of
the  World  Trade Organisation (WTO) in Singapore next  month.
The  task ahead will be in the hands of our Economic Ministers
to work out a mechanism for an effective submission to WTO, in
particular,  on  the complete implementation  of  the  Uruguay
Round.   We  should heed the Midrand Declaration of UNCTAD  IX
for  `Solidarity in action' as a guide for our cooperation  on
this issue.

9.    Let me join you, Mr. President, in the call to close our
ranks  and rededicate ourselves to the cause of the developing
countries.  The G-15 can be relevant if we want it to be.  The
G-15 can provide the leadership role if we commit ourselves to
that  purpose.   We  have  a lot to do.   The  challenges  are
getting  bigger and the time for us to act is getting  shorter
and shorter.  But act we must.

10.   Finally,  Mr.  President, I  would  like  to  take  this
opportunity  to  invite you and all the  Heads  of  State  and
Government of the G-15, and other delegates, to come to  Kuala
Lumpur in 1997 for the Seventh Summit meeting of the G-15.  We
hope  that all of you could come.  It would indeed be a  great
honour  for Malaysia if you do and I am sure it would be  good
for the G-15.