SPEECH 4: 

UK-MALAYSIA HIGH LEVEL DINNER 1^ST JUNE 2023, EAST INDIA ROOM

SALUTATION

Your     Excellency,     High     Commissioner     of     Malaysia     to     the 

United Kingdom

Lord Johnson, 

Members of the House of Lords, Members of Parliament,

Ladies & Gentlemen

(note: The salutation list will be updated based on latest info)

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1. It is a pleasure to be here in London, especially at this exciting time in the UK-Malaysia partnership. Our two nations stand on the verge of a major new step forward in our trade and investment partnership.

2. The U.K.’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) expected in a few months will set the stage for a new phase in our bilateral relationship.

3. This is an opportunity to open the doors for better growth and access to new markets. We are looking at the UK having a trade deal with Malaysia for the first time, reducing the red tape as businesses enjoy operating on a par with local firms and cutting off tariffs on goods exports, providing businesses with much greater access to new markets.

4. It is to the great credit of U.K. Ministers and their negotiating team that they committed to CPTPP with an open and ambitious spirit. Among the key negotiating points was an agreement to reduce import tariffs on exports of Malaysian palm oil.

5. I am aware that palm oil is often attacked by some in the U.K. media and NGO community. This is unjustified, but too often the facts are lost in the fog of media management. I pay tribute to UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and her team for prioritising free trade.
6. The tariff reductions on palm oil are a standard element for CPTPP countries – and I can assure you that the UK has secured significant market access provisions in return. The UK is the first and only European nation to have the vision and commitment to join the CPTPP - the world’s largest-ever free trade agreement. That is a bold statement about your commitment to the Indo-Pacific:  the region that will define global security and economic competition in the 21^st Century.

7. Malaysia occupies a unique position in the region. With an educated English-speaking population and an historic commitment to common law and democracy, our country plays a key role in the politics of ASEAN, and in the economics of CPTPP.

8. Our new Malaysian Government, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is committed to leveraging this pivotal position to advance Malaysia’s strategic interests.

9. Inside CPTPP, that means not only increasing trade but also driving forward a broader policy agenda.
   • Addressing climate change in a practical, realistic manner.
   • Reducing poverty and eliminating hunger.
   • Managing unprecedented technological advances. Addressing shared challenges on security.

10. The U.K. adds significant weight to this ambitious agenda, and we look forward to working with you to achieve these objectives. In the private sector, Malaysian and British businesses and researchersare already working together to drive innovation and progress.  Here in London, Malaysian investment is driving the redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station site. 

11. In Malaysia, British schools and universities are training the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. These complementary exchanges of investment and expertise show how much more our countries can work together.

12. Together, we all have a responsibility to turn the political success of CPTPP accession into a real-world success of increased investment, jobs, cultural exchanges, and education. That will leave a legacy for future generations, of which we can all be proud.

13. We thank you for your friendship, and I look forward to discussing further with you this evening.