Oleh 		: 	YAB DATO SERI DR 
			MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat		: 	SERI PERDANA, PUTRAJAYA 
Tarikh		:	31-7-2000 
Tajuk 		: 	AT THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN 
			HONOUR OF THE HONOURABLE SHEIKH 
			HASINA PRIME MINISTER OF THE 
			PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH 
Penyampai	: 	PM


    It  gives  me great pleasure to extend to you  and  the
distinguished members of your delegation a warm  welcome  to
Malaysia.  We  feel  deeply honoured  by  your  visit  which
reflects  the  close  ties  that  exist  between   our   two
countries.   Though your visit is a short one, I  hope  that
you  and members of your delegation will have a pleasant and
fruitful stay in Malaysia.

2.   I recalled vividly my own visit to Dhaka during the D-8
Summit  last  year where I had the opportunity to  meet  and
discuss  with you issues of interest to both sides, in  line
with  our  common  desire to promote wider  cooperation.   I
believe  that  regular exchanges of visits and consultations
between leaders and officials as well as increased people to
people contacts are useful in enhancing bilateral relations.
In  this regard, your own visit to Malaysia will undoubtedly
provide  further impetus to the strengthening of our overall
bilateral relations.

3.    I  am  glad  to  note that relations between  our  two
countries   are   progressing   satisfactorily.    We    are
appreciative   of   the   positive  contribution   made   by
Bangladeshi   workers  in  the  development  of   Malaysia's
economy.  Malaysia  will continue to  recruit  workers  from
Bangladesh as and when necessary.

4.    Our  bilateral  trade has also been on  the  increase,
registering RM 263 million for the first five months of this
year.    However,  such  trade  constitutes  only  a   small
percentage of our total world trade volume.  Greater efforts
should,  therefore,  be  made  to  take  advantage  of   the
opportunities  available in expanding our  trade  relations.
More  interactions  should  also  be  promoted  between  the
private  sector of both sides.  In this regard, I am pleased
to  note  the  presence  of  top business  leaders  in  your
delegation,  which bears testimony to your  keen  desire  to
promote  greater economic cooperation and trade between  our
two countries.

5.    I  am also glad to learn that some Malaysian companies
are  already  operating in Bangladesh through  joint-venture
partnership with their counterparts.  Malaysia is now listed
by  the Bangladeshi Board of Investment as the third largest
foreign  investor in Bangladesh with a total  investment  of
USD  1.32  billion.   I  believe the presence  of  Malaysian
investors  reflects  the  confidence  that  they   have   in
Bangladesh's  economy  arising  from  the  success  of   the
economic  policies pursued by Your Excellency's  Government.
With   Malaysia's  economic  recovery,  I  hope  that   more
Malaysian companies will venture abroad, including investing
in Bangladesh. In this regard, the continued cooperation and
assistance  of Your Excellency's Government is essential  to
enable  them  to  be  more involved  in  the  socio-economic
development  of Bangladesh. At the same time,  I  hope  that
Bangladeshi companies would also be encouraged  to  be  more
aggressive  in  attracting potential joint-venture  partners
from Malaysia to invest in Bangladesh.

6.   Malaysia lauds the commitment made by Your Excellency's
Government to pursue an open-market economy with  a  private
sector-led  economic  growth and development.  The  measures
taken  to  activate and strengthen the role of  the  private
sector  in  trade  and  industry will surely  contribute  to
stimulating economic growth in Bangladesh.  It is  important
that   a   business-friendly  environment  be   created   in
Bangladesh to attract foreign investors.  No investment will
take place without peace and stability.  In this regard,  we
would  like  to  commend  Your  Excellency  for  your   able
leadership  in solving your internal insurgency problem  and
in striving hard to create a peaceful and stable environment
in  Bangladesh.    We  also  admire  your  determination  to
realise the vision  of your father to build a "Sonar Bangla"
or  "Golden Bengal".   It is  our sincere hope that  such  a
vision  would be realised for the benefit of the  people  of
Bangladesh.

7.    Cooperation  among  Muslim  nations  is  an  important
dimension  of Malaysia's foreign policy.  Much needs  to  be
done to improve the lot of Muslims worldwide in this era  of
globalisation.  Malaysia regards Bangladesh as an  important
member  of  D8  and the OIC and we look forward  to  working
closely with Bangladesh in the interest of the Ummah.  I  am
confident  that given the political will and the support  as
well  as  cooperation of all members, the various objectives
for  which  the  two  organisations were  created  could  be
achieved in the years ahead. 
 



Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri