Xi: Malaysia-China ties built on mutual help and trust

China's President Xi Jinping speaks during the Malaysia-China Economic Summit.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China's strong bilateral ties were built on mutual help given in difficult times and ever more solid political trust, said China's president Xi Jinping.

Stressing that Malaysia was an important stop on his first state trip to Southeast Asia, he thanked the business communities from both nations who had long been committed to enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Our two countries have proven to be good neighbours, good friends and good partners who go through thick and thin together," he said in his keynote speech at the Malaysia-China Economic Summit at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here Friday.

Xi added that China would also never forget the strong public support it received from the Malaysian public in the aftermath of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

"It touched our hearts. In 2012, a Malaysian student from Tianjin University saved the life of a seven-year-old Chinese boy by donating his own stem cells. These stories give full expression to the profound friendship between our people," he said.

He noted that Malaysia had been the first Asean country to establish diplomatic ties with China, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had chosen China as the first country to visit outside of Asean in 2009.

Malaysia-China relationship an opportunity of a lifetime, says Xi

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and China set the stage for a boom in relationship and the economy with what Chinese President Xi Jinping has described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He described the great opportunities available from the significant upgrading of trade and business ties between the two countries, as “shi bu zai lai” (‘it will only come once’ in Mandarin).

Based on what has been agreed by the two leaders over a five-year economic and trade cooperation, there is much in store for both countries to benefit.

Malaysia and China have also finalised the teamwork mechanism for the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (QIP), launched in April last year, and signed the agreed minutes for the setting up of a joint cooperation council of the QIP and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

The MCKIP, the sister park of QIP in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in China, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in April 2011.

The formation of the council is a huge step forward for the iconic QIP-MCKIP tie-up, as it would be responsible for coordinating, promoting, monitoring and evaluating the progress and development of the parks.

Most significantly, Najib and Xi pledge to achieve a bilateral trade volume of US$160bil (RM508bil) by the end of 2017 – 1.7 times more than last year’s amount.

Malaysia-China target RM500b in trade by 2017 - Bernama

Najib (2nd left) and Xi (4th right) heading for more talks in the Malaysia-China Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur today. - Reuters pic, October 4, 2013

Malaysia and China are set to achieve a total bilateral trade of US$160 billion by 2017, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

During a closed-door meeting with China's President Xi Jinping at his office today, both leaders also discussed a five-year programme for economic and trade cooperation and agreed to elevate the current cooperation between both countries into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Prime Minister said China also expressed keen interest to participate in Malaysia's high-speed rail project, China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park.

"We also discussed greater cooperation in financial services. We’d like to see more trade between the countries settled in the Renminbi and Ringgit.

"Information should also be disseminated to the private sectors of both countries. We also agreed that financial institutions in Malaysia and China should assume a greater role in both countries," he said at a joint press conference with Xi after the meeting.

Xi and his 100-member delegation arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a three-day state visit.

Both leaders are expected to attend the Malaysia-China Economic Summit, later today, aimed at promoting and enhancing business-to-business linkages and collaboration between Malaysia and China.

Najib hoping for more FDI from China for mutual benefit

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed hope for more foreign direct investment (FDI) to be pumped into Malaysia from China for the benefit of both countries.

 

While he thanked the Chinese government for supporting Malaysian companies, Najib said the amount of FDI from China was not as much as the FDI from Malaysia into the Asian economic giant.

"As of 2012, Malaysia's cumulative FDI into China stands at USD6.3bil (RM20.05bil).

"The cross flow from China to Malaysia however, is a fraction of that," he said in his speech at the Malaysia-China Economic Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Friday.

Najib said Malaysia looked forward to further investment in the future, as it continued to explore business opportunities in China and carry out reforms.

"We also laud the ongoing initiatives to facilitate further trade, including our bilateral currency swap arrangement agreement.

Xi begins 3-day state visit

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia rolled out the red carpet to welcome President Xi Jinping of China, whose three-day visit is set to usher in a new era in relations between both countries.

The visit is of utmost importance as it signals the commitment of the new Chinese leadership to maintain the longstanding friendly relations with Kuala Lumpur since the establishment of diplomatic relations 39 years ago.

Accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, Xi was greeted by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, upon arrival at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, at 6.35pm.

Others in the Chinese delegation included State Councillor overseeing foreign diplomacy Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

Xi arrived here after wrapping up a state visit to Indonesia, the first stop of his maiden trip to Southeast Asia since assuming the presidency in March.

 According to Wisma Putra, the trip will enable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Xi to chart the future direction of Malaysia-China relations, which includes reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in all fields and contribute to the prosperity and maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

Today, Xi will be given an official welcome at Parliament, where he is expected to go on a short visit with his presidential entourage.

He is scheduled to meet Najib at the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya after that.

Malaysia-China ties stronger than ever

Razak and his Malaysian delegation being given a rousing welcome upon arrival at the Beijing airport in 1974.

KUALA LUMPUR: It has been 39 years since the late Tun Abdul Razak played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic ties with China.

And in all the years since, even after the former Prime Minister’s passing, the Chinese government has maintained a cordial relationship with his widow Tun Rahah Mohd Noah and her family.

Through its embassy here, China has invited Rahah to its functions and to the ambassadors’ official residence and even called on her – all in appreciation of her husband’s mammoth contributions in bringing the two countries closer.

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Chai Xi said it had always been a custom for the Chinese to remember the good deeds done for them.

Najib Razak : Lawatan Presiden China Xi Jinping

Presiden China, Xi Jinping memulakan lawatan Negara selama tiga hari ke Malaysia. Lawatan ini akan membolehkan Najib Razak dan Xi melakar hala tuju masa depan hubungan Malaysia-China.

(Source: 1malaysia.com.my)

Najib, Xi to 'set future direction' of bilateral ties

BOOSTING TIES AND TRADE: Chinese president to ink several economic cooperation and trade agreements

KUALA LUMPUR:   MALAYSIA and China are expected to sign several economic pacts and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during Chinese President's Xi Jinping state visit here, his first since assuming office in March.

Xi, who arrives today, will have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his three-day visit which Wisma Putra said would "set the future direction" of Malaysia-China ties.

"This (state) visit of President Xi is of utmost importance as it signals the commitment of the new Chinese leadership to maintain the long-standing friendly relations with Malaysia," Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said.

"The visit is envisaged to take into account the geo-strategic developments rapidly taking place in the region," he said at a news briefing ahead of the visit.

Xi will be accompanied by a 100-strong delegation, which includes his wife, Peng Liyuan, State Councillor overseeing foreign diplomacy Yang jiechi, Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

More high value-added investments needed from China

“We’ve to move up the value chain and move downstream as well. For example, in the oil and gas industry, we have to create more downstream projects in Malaysia,” Najib said at the CNBC Summit: Malaysia 2013 hosted by CNBC anchor Martin Soong.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is seeking more Chinese investments in higher value-added sectors of the economy even though China is now Malaysia’s biggest investor.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that while the country was enjoying a stream of foreign direct investment (FDI) from China, there was a need for more investments higher up the supply chain.

“We’ve to move up the value chain and move downstream as well. For example, in the oil and gas industry, we have to create more downstream projects in Malaysia,” he said at the CNBC Summit: Malaysia 2013 hosted by CNBC anchor Martin Soong.

China was Malaysia’s biggest trading partner with a 14.4% share of Malaysia’s total trade of RM769.6bil during the January-July 2013 period.
The country is seeing an inflow of Chinese investments in sectors like logistics and steel.

China, Malaysia hail cooperation, pledge deeper ties

Malaysian Prime Minister Nazib Tun Razak (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Aug. 1, 2013.

China and Malaysia vowed to further boost relations and cooperation on the basis of bilateral achievements made in recent years.

During his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said despite progress in all-round cooperation, bilateral relations still have great potential and a broad horizon.

China is Malaysia's largest trading partner, Najib said, and the two countries are making good progress in cooperations in various fields.

The two sides have joint industrial parks, their defense cooperation is on a steady launch, and more and more Chinese tourists are coming to Malaysia.

Najib commended that the Malaysia-China relations have become an example of mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, and China is increasingly exerting greater influence on Malaysia's economy and society.

11 Malaysian Companies Given Approval To Export Bird's Nest To China - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced that the Chinese government has given approval to 11 Malaysian companies to resume the export of swiftlet nests to that country, subject to several conditions.

The Prime Minister said the decision would enable the country's swiftlet nest industry to be revived after exports of the product to China had been delayed for more than two years.

Najib said he would ask the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry and the Health Ministry to take follow-up action on the matter immediately.

"The bird's nest issue is important as it involves many people and had been delayed for too long. Exports were delayed for two years, that's why the price of bird's nest plumetted. Following the decision, the bird's nest industry can be revived soon.

"(Special envoy to China) Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting had taken various initiatives with the Chinese government to the extent that they have given special approval to Malaysia," Najib told reporters after receiving a call from a delegation from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at his office at Parliament House, here today.

The seven-member delegation was led by the newly-appointed Guangxi Governor, Chen Wu. Ong was also present.

MCKIP officially open for business

KUANTAN: With billions of ringgit in investments coming to life after just four months, the highly anticipated Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) is now officially open for business.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the park yesterday, made possible by Malaysia-China relations being on an “unprecedented high”.

The park in Gebeng here is expected to be fully completed in two years. It has already attracted investment commitments worth RM10.5bil and will create 8,500 jobs.

Naib said it was the first industrial park in Malaysia to be accorded national status which will see it driven by the private sector but guided by the Government.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the People's Republic of China chairman Jia Qinglin attributed the park a sister project of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (QIP) to the personal commitment of the two prime ministers and efforts of local governments and businesses of both countries.