Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	HELSINKI, FINLAND 
Tarikh/Date 	:	15/04/85 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER GIVEN BY HIS EXCELLENCY 
			KALEVI SORSA PRIME MINISTER OF 
			FINLAND IN HELSINKI 




 Your Excellency Kalevi Sorsa, Prime Minister of Finland; Distinguished
Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen; 

It is indeed an honour and a pleasure for the members of my delegation and
I to be present here tonight at this dinner. I wish to thank you for the
warm welcome accorded to us during our visit to your country. I have heard
how beautiful this country of yours is, of its many lakes and forests and
of its friendly people and I am delighted to be here in Finland to see all
these things for myself.

2. Malaysia and Finland established diplomatic relations only since 1973
and therefore we can be considered as relatively new friends. Part of the
reason for this is that we are separated by geographical distance, and we
have had different historical background and experiences. Notwithstanding
this, we share a common desire to establish and maintain friendly
relations with all countries, irrespective of their governmental systems
and based on the principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of nations. At the same time, we both pursue a
peace-oriented policy of neutrality and non-alignment to promote
international cooperation. It was on this basis that we took the step to
establish bilateral relations with each other.

3. Since the establishment of relations between our two countries, our
bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic field, has increased
significantly in scope. In the last few years, we have witnessed the rapid
growth of cooperation in the economic and technical fields, in investment
and in joint-ventures. Our ties have been further consolidated by the
Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement concluded in 1981, which
provided for the establishment of a Joint Commission between both
countries. The Joint Commission has achieved considerable success in
identifying various areas of cooperation relating to trade, investments
and joint-ventures, and economic and technical matters. With this Joint
Commission to monitor the progress of our economic cooperation, I am
certain that bilateral relations between our two countries will continue
to be strengthened for our mutual benefit.

4. The most noticeable growth in our bilateral relations has been in the
field of trade, which has increased significantly in quantum and
value. However, a substantial part of this increase has been due to the
bigger volume of imports of Finnish products into Malaysia. On the other
hand, the Malaysian share of the Finnish market has not improved to any
significant degree. While this is perhaps a tribute to the success of your
entrepreneurs in penetrating the Malaysian market, I would urge that we
both face the matter squarely and work together to achieve a more
equitablebalance of trade. In this regard, I welcome the formation of the
Finnish-Malaysia Trade Association here in Helsinki. The Association will
be of valuable assistance to entrepreneurs from both countries to improve
our links in commerce.

5. It is also for reason of trade that I have brought with me prominent
members of the Malaysian private sector, among whom are representatives of
leading business houses in Malaysia. I am certain that they will not miss
this opportunity to establish commercial links with Finnish firms and
industries. The establishment of such links should also result in the
expansion of direct bilateral trade between our two countries, for our
mutual benefit.

Your Excellency, 

6. Malaysia, like most nations in the world, is striving to achieve
economic development and progress so that its people can enjoy an even
higher standard of living. However, progress and development can only be
achieved in a climate of peace and stability. Malaysia and Finland, and
indeed all responsible nations, share the view that military conflict is
the greatest threat to peace and stability. Within our own region of
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, together with her partners in ASEAN, is trying
to establish a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any
foreign interference. However, the Kampuchean problem remains the single
most serious obstacle to peace and stability in the region. Despite
efforts by ASEAN and the international community, the situation in
Kampuchea remains unchanged. The Kampuchean Issue must be resolved
peacefully and speedily in accordance with the declaration of the
International Conference of Kampuchea and other relevant United Nations
resolutions that have been endorsed and supported by the international
community.

7. The crux of Malaysia's foreign policy remains the development of
friendly relations with all countries based on the principles of mutual
respect and non-interference in each other's affairs. In this respect, we
in Malaysia are aware of Finland's active role and unceasing efforts to
promote the cause of detente, disarmament and peace not just in Europe,
but also its endeavours in striving towards the non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons. It was Finland's initiative and contribution towards the
efforts to promote the cause of detente that led to the commencement of
the historically significant Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe in this city in 1973. It was fitting that the signing of the Final
Act of the Conference was also done in Helsinki. The existence of this
document and the fact that the process that was begun in 1973 is still ong
oing and is now in fact a larger process is testimony to your country's
commitment to the ideals of peace and cooperative endeavours in Europe.

8. Another area of concern to Malaysia is the question of Antarctica. It
is the last unsettled frontier in the world and it remains our view that
all Mankind has a legitimate interest in the continent. Antarctica should
not be the exclusive preserve of only a few nations. Malaysia is ready to
cooperate with the member states of the Antarctica Treaty with a view to
finding an acceptable system wherein all nations may cooperate to preserve
that vast cold continent and sustain its environment until such time when
exploitation of its resources can be done without pollution and damaging
the ecological system.

Your Excellency, 

9. I am confident that in the future the bilateral relations between our
two countries will continue to expand for our mutual benefit. The fact
that we have reached across continents to bind this friendship further is
indeed an example of how mutual cooperation between nations can and should
be fostered.

10. Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlement, may I now invite you to
join me in a toast to the good health of His Excellency Kalevi Sorsa,
Prime Minister of Finland, and to the close relations between Malaysia and
Finland.