KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has welcomed and supported Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for reaffirming Malaysia’s support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh hoped such a positive move would further boost bilateral trade between Malaysia and China, and to accelerate Malaysia’s economic recovery, post Covid-19 pandemic.
He proposed the government to further explore the feasibility of pairing the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) with BRI, so as to better tap into China’s vast financial resources and technological advancement to enhance and accelerate Malaysia’s infrastructures development.
Goh who is also a Director of the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) cum Chairman of its Bilateral Policies proposed this in a statement issued today, while welcoming the support expressed by the Prime Minister for the BRI; Ismail Sabri expressed this while speaking at the virtual opening ceremony of the 130th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), last Friday. Also in attendance were Chinese premier Li Keqiang and other heads of government.
Goh also concurred with the Prime Minister for believing that this mutual understanding (BRI) will create new possibilities for growth and development across the Asia Pacific, Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe.
“We believe, if our government could put in place the necessary policies and back them up with appropriate actions, Malaysia would certainly stand to benefit from this Initiative,” he said.
He continued that, a vast majority of Malaysians felt relieved that despite several times of regime change in Malaysia, in the last few years, it had not affected bilateral ties between Malaysia and China, as well as the BRI.
He also welcomed the Prime Minister’s declaration that in line with Malaysia’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, the country advocated the spirit of working together for a better future, and that Malaysia’s aspiration will resonate well with China.
Goh thus hoped Malaysia and China could strive to enhance bilateral cooperation in this aspect towards achieving common aspirations and benefits for the two nations and their people.
He noted that, despite the many challenges posed by the pandemic, bilateral trade between Malaysia and China has remained strong where China has become Malaysia’s top investor with investments amounting to US$4.41bil (about RM18bil) last year. This ranking has been maintained for the past five years.
Since 2009, China had moved up to become Malaysia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 18.6% of total trade last year. Malaysia’s export to China in the same year had also expanded by 11.1%, comprising US$37.77bil (about RM160bil); China was also Malaysia’s biggest import source, accounting for 21.5% of total imports.
Goh was also glad to note that Ismail Sabri had during his speech disclosed that seventy-one manufacturing projects involving China’s participation approved in 2020 are expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs in Malaysia.
Goh also welcomed and supported the remark by Chinese premier Li Keqiang that China will continue to open up, share economic opportunities and prosperity with the world.
In line with this, he hoped more Malaysian traders and entrepreneurs could better seize the opportunities to explore bilateral trades between Malaysia and China.-pr/BNN
