0Oleh/By	:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	30/07/96 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF 
			HIS EXCELLENCY MR FRANZ VRANITZKY ,
			CHANCELLOR OF AUSTRIA 



     1.    I would like to extend to Your Excellency, Mrs
    Vranitzky  and  members of your delegation,  a  very
    warm  welcome  to Malaysia.  This high  level  visit
    from  Austria  is  a reflection of  the  strong  and
    cordial relationship between our two countries.   It
    is  my  hope  that  this visit, albeit  brief,  will
    enable  Malaysia and Austria to further  consolidate
    the  good  relationship between our governments  and
    peoples.
    
    2.    I  am  indeed delighted that Your Excellency's
    visit   is  being  made  as  Austria  abserves   her
    thousandth  anniversary  on  the  existence  of  her
    statehood.  Such an historic accomplishment inspires
    other  countries  to  preserve and  safeguard  their
    unique sovereignty.
    
    3.    It  is  remarkable that Malaysia and  Austria,
    though  belonging to different geographical regions,
    should share many things in common.  This has helped
    to  bring our two countries closer together to  work
    towards  mutual benefit.  The inaugural Asia  Europe
    Meeting  that  was held earlier this year  has  also
    started  a  process  of  bringing  our  two  regions
    together.
    
    4.    In  both  the Southeast Asian as well  as  the
    European  regions,  there is  a  rich  diversity  of
    culture, ethnicity and religion.  Our experience  of
    life  in this region has helped develop in us a deep
    respect,  understanding and  appreciation  of  other
    societies.   On  the  basis of this  cross  cultural
    etiquette,  I  am  glad that we have  laid  a  sound
    foundation  for the development of close cooperation
    on political, economic, trade and other matters.
    
    5.     Malaysia   is  strongly  committed   to   the
    enhancement  of  relations with  Austria.   We  also
    believe  that  Austria,  given  its  leadership   in
    certain  areas  of  technology,  can  provide  vital
    inputs  towards Malaysia's industrialisation  goals.
    Austria   is   also   welcome  to   participate   in
    infrastructure projects in the buoyant Malaysian and
    Southeast  Asian growth area.  Malaysia is currently
    entering  a  phase that emphasises capital-intensive
    and   high  technology  industries  and  it  is   of
    particular interest to the Malaysian Government that
    Austrians  avail themselves of the opportunities  in
    this area.
    
    6.   There is also considerable scope to develop the
    tourism  potential  between our two  countries.   In
    recent  years more and more Malaysians  have  become
    accustomed  to  travelling abroad  and  I  can  well
    understand   Austria  being  one  of   the   popular
    destinations  in Europe.  As a centre of  music  and
    culture your country continues to attract Malaysians
    from  all walks of life.  I note however that we  do
    not  get  that  many tourists from Austria  visiting
    Malaysia.   It  is  my hope that  there  will  be  a
    greater  interest  on the part of the  Austrians  to
    visit  Malaysia.  We have touristic  locations  that
    can  attract not only senior citizens but others  as
    well.
    
    7.     In   Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  dramatic
    geopolitical   developments   have   taken    place.
    Malaysia  appreciates the leading role that  Austria
    has   played  in  extending  assistance   to   those
    countries making a transition to the market  economy
    system.    Austria's  historical   familiarity   and
    natural   proximity  to  countries  in  the  region,
    coupled   with   its   well-developed   network   of
    financial,  communication  and  industrial  linkages
    give it an added advantage. Clearly, Austria's quiet
    efforts  to ensure political stability and a  smooth
    economic  transformation  have  contributed  to  the
    steady  progress and development of these countries.
    Their  integration in the world economic  system  is
    also  progressing  well.  These  efforts  have  also
    indirectly benefited  Malaysia. For  instance,   our
    two-way   trade   figure reached US$500  million  in
    1994,  of  which  a significant portion  constitutes
    transit  trade to countries in Central  and  Eastern
    Europe.
    
    8.   Austria has emerged as a natural springboard to
    the  emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe.
    By  the  same  token, I believe  Malaysia  with  its
    strategic   geographical  advantage,  contacts   and
    familiarity  with  the  markets  and  countries   in
    Southeast  and East Asia, could complement Austria's
    economic objectives in this part of the world.   Our
    private sectors can surely do good business with one
    another as well as cooperate in third countries.
    
    9.    Malaysia,  along with her  ASEAN  partners  is
    inspired  by the development along the  Danube.   We
    have  now  initiated  the ASEAN -Mekong  Development
    Forum.   Both  the Danube and Mekong are significant
    waterways  of  our  respective  regions.   Austria's
    experience  in  regional  co-operation  through  the
    Danube  could be a relevant model for ASEAN's Mekong
    development plan.
    
    10.   The Dayton peace process has raised hope among
    the  Bosnians that they may be able to rebuild their
    war-torn  country.  It is the first  step  in  their
    long  journey  towards  nation  building.   In  this
    respect,  Malaysia  remains committed  to  assisting
    Bosnia-Herzegovina in their reconstruction  efforts.
    We  hope  to  share our knowledge and experience  of
    building   a  harmonious  multi-racial  and   multi-
    religious society with Bosnia-Herzegovina.  I  trust
    that what Malaysia could do from afar, Austria could
    do better because of her geographical proximity.
    
    11.   Let  me  conclude by saying that Malaysia  and
    Austria  have sound bilateral relations which  could
    be  further  developed and intensified.  We  possess
    tremendous complementary potential, particularly  as
    economic gateways to our respective regions.   Joint
    harmonisation  and  realisation  of  that  potential
    would  serve  as  a  solid basis for  enhancing  our
    cooperation for mutual benefit.