Message by the Charge d'Affaires a.i. on Malaysia's National Day
Message by the Charge d'Affaires a.i. on Malaysia's National Day
As Malaysia celebrates its 42nd anniversary on 31 August 1999, I would like to take this opportunity to express satisfaction on the state of bilateral relations currently enjoyed by Malaysia and Indonesia. The shared similarities particularly in culture and language between our two countries have helped reinforce the bond of friendship and understanding at all levels of both societies.
When the economic crisis engulfed the East Asian countries in mid-1997, our two countries were also affected and underwent the subsequent difficulties. However, we begin to see many positive signs of economic recovery and I am certain that soon both our countries will emerge from this experience much stronger and more resilient to face the challenges of the coming millennium. The fostering of close cooperation and collaboration bilaterally as well as at the regional and international level would not only accelerate the recovery process but also the overall attainment of economic prosperity and growth.
Relations between Malaysia and Indonesia have over the years grown from strength to strength. This has been possible by the regular exchange of visits at the heads of government and ministerial levels as well as between officials of the two countries. Cooperation in the fields of education, culture, religion, tourism, information, human resources development and haze management have achieved substantial progress that have mutually benefited the two countries. Economic and trade relations too continue to increase steadily while ongoing private sector interaction and collaboration will be further promoted to enhance global competitiveness of our two countries in international trade.
Malaysia and Indonesia's bond of close cooperation and solidarity has also been nurtured through their membership in ASEAN. Through continuous constructive dialogue and closely adhering to the principles of non-interference, mutual respect and equality, the region has achieved remarkable progress. Being founder members, our two countries have played instrumental roles in this success and will continue to work together within this regional framework to promote economic growth and develop national resilience, for overall peace, prosperity and security in the region.
Once again, on this auspicious occasion I would like to express the hope that the warm and close bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia will continue to be further consolidated and enhanced.
Embassy of Malaysia
24 August 1999