CEREMONIAL ADDRESS
BY
YAB PRIME MINISTER DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
AT THE 101st OSTASIATISCHES LIEBESMAHL
“GERMANY AND MALAYSIA: PARTNERS IN ASEAN AND BEYOND”
ANJURAN
GERMAN ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (OAV)
15 MARCH 2024 (FRIDAY)
HAMBURG CITY HALL, GERMAN
Good evening and Grüße,
- As early as the 1890s, German businesses, including Hamburg’s very own Behn Meyer, ventured into Penang, a state in Malaysia, trading tin and rice across the Indian Ocean and Over two centuries later, total German- Malaysian trade has skyrocketed to more than 12 billion Euros.
- Reflecting on this occasion, I am reminded of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany’s poet, dramatist and philosopher par excellence, and how he was inspired by the 14th century Persian poet-mystic Muhammad Shamsuddin.
- After reading and drinking deep from the mystical well-springs of Hafiz’s Divan, Goethe then produced his own masterpiece, namely, the West- östlicher Divan (West-Eastern Divan). Goethe declared:
- “GOD is of the East possess’d, God is ruler of the West; North and South alike, each land Rests within His gentle hand… Amen.”
- Goethe’s immortal words cannot ring truer and more relevant than today as we stand at the crossroads of a rapidly evolving global landscape, where divisions cut across humanity north, south, east and west!
- In pressing the need to build bridges, Goethe celebrated the convergence of cultures long before such concepts as cosmopolitan and globalization entered our collective consciousness.
- This vision of a bridge between East and West perfectly captures the spirit of today’s Liebesmahl, through which we aim to forge a future where economic cooperation and cultural understanding can flourish hand-in-hand.
Ladies and gentlemen,
- The strength of the Malaysia-Germany relationship is reflected by a simple fact: Malaysia is Germany’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and Germany is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in Europe.
- From Allianz to ZF Group, over 700 German businesses have set up shop on Malaysia’s shores, leveraging on our strategic location in the heart of Asia.
- Earlier last year, I was honoured to host President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on his state visit to Malaysia, the first in 26 years, underscoring the increasing importance of Malaysia to Germany’s geostrategic priorities.
- In this regard, we must continue to work hand-in-hand, be proactive rather than reactive to global shifts, and collectively champion convergence rather than divergence.
- As Goethe’s soul mate in poetry and literature, the renowned Friedrich Schiller, wrote in his exhilarating Ode to Joy, “All men become brothers under the sway of thy gentle wings”.
- It is in this spirit of Schiller’s call for the unity of mankind and Goethe’s exemplary inspiration from the Divan of Hafiz that we ourselves should be so inspired to learn from one another without fear or suspicion, where cultural exchange would enrich rather than dilute the human experience, and where our values converge rather than diverge.
- Today, challenges like climate change, economic inequality, and technological disruption are shaping history as we speak. These developments make the ideals expounded by our great literati more relevant than ever. They remind us to honour our diverse legacies while forging a united path forward towards progress.
Ladies and gentlemen,
- Malaysia’s comparative strengths as a hub for global commerce, manufacturing, and business rests on sturdy and firm pillars.
- Malaysia is a thriving democracy that places transparency, accountability and governance at its Since my taking office as Prime Minister, we have embarked on a relentless drive towards substantive structural reforms.
- This will directly benefit businesses and investors by easing the costs of doing business, building faith in the Malaysian system, and ultimately, ensuring the long-term viability of investments.
- The Madani Economy framework embodies our commitment to propel Malaysia towards becoming a leading economy in Asia, as well as driving sustainable and inclusive It envisions a society where prosperity is shared, advocating for greater ASEAN integration and economic complexity, and establishing Malaysia as a regional powerhouse.
- Underpinning this is the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, which aims to reinvigorate Malaysia’s industrial landscape, focusing on adding value, advanced manufacturing, and high-impact investments.
- Finally, the National Energy Transition Roadmap embodies our forward- looking stance on environmental stewardship, outlining a comprehensive strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
- On the geopolitical side, it bears stressing that our principled position of non- alignment stands us in good stead to conduct trade and commerce with the East and the West. While detractors have conjured a ghost of past rivalries and are now even raising the spectre of imminent war, I do not subscribe to that line of thought.
- The main imperative for those of us in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, remains to be development, trade, and growth. The core of our national strategy is being proactive and anticipatory, rather than reactive and unprepared.
- This strengthens our resilience against geopolitical fluctuations, allowing Malaysia to be the sixth-largest semiconductor exporter in the world.
- It also allows Malaysia to export its energy without undue geopolitical concerns. Here, I want to stress that Malaysia is ready to support Germany’s energy transition through natural gas as a transitional fuel. This will balance Germany’s immediate energy security needs with long-term sustainability
- I believe that the strength of our bilateral relationship should carry over to further regional integration. Based on mutual trust, the time is ripe for us to rekindle discussions on the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement.
- With this, Europe will be able to capitalise on Malaysia as a gateway to Asia, leveraging on open market policies facilitated by the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, RCEP, and CPTPP.
Ladies and gentlemen,
- Malaysia is not just open for business; we are ready to lead, innovate, and partner in high-quality ventures that align with our national goals and global responsibilities.
- Let us champion a new Divan for our times. A Divan that celebrates our shared humanity and mutual interests. As we part ways, let us hold fast to this vision we have articulated.
- In honouring the legacy of Hafez, Goethe and Schiller, let us tread the path ahead not as lone individuals, but as companions, bonded by the ties of our common humanity.
Thank you.
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