Pandikar Amin: Reciprocal visits boost M’sia-China ties

KOTA KINABALU: The exchange of high-level visits at various levels of political and government leadership and officials over the years have strengthened friendship between Malaysia and China.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia said in the past 39 years of diplomatic relationship, both nations have progressed substantially, particularly in trade, investment, finance, information and communications technology (ICT), infrastructure, construction, agriculture, health, education, culture, tourism and security.

“The regular contacts between Malaysian and Chinese political and government leaders and officials have provided ample opportunities to generate more activities and identify new areas of cooperation to further strengthen bilateral relations.

“The excellent bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China is not mere rhetoric, but supported by facts and actions,” he said at the installation of the Sabah Ma-Zhong Friendship Association and celebration of Malaysia-China 39th anniversary of diplomatic relationship here on Sunday night.

He said regular contacts between Malaysian and Chinese political and government leaders and officials provided ample opportunities to generate more activities and identify new areas of cooperation.

Malaysia, Pandikar Amin added, looked forward to welcoming Jia Qinglin, chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to Malaysia next month.

He also disclosed that the volume of trade between the two nations in 2011 amounted to USD54.4 billion while US$38.1 billion was recorded between January and August last year.

“In fact, China is now Malaysia’s largest export market at US$29.8 billion and source of import at US$24.7 billion,” he said, adding that Malaysia’s major exports to China were electrical and electronic products, palm oil, and chemicals, while the major imports were electrical and electronic products, machinery, chemical, appliances and parts.

Meanwhile, Pandikar Amin urged Malaysian businessmen in Sabah to appreciate the excellent bilateral ties between Malaysia and China.

And, he also said Sabah’s relations with China dated back more than thousand years ago and that the artifacts displayed in the museum proved this relationship.

“In Sabah, you will also find many Sabahans who are Fujian (or Hokkien as we call them locally) -descendants who have contributed to the development of the local community and the state while maintaining a link with their clan in China.

Pandikar also congratulated the young and energetic team who set up the Ma Zhong Friendship Association Sabah which promotes cultural, educational and commercial exchanges between China and Malaysia.

“I hope Dr Oh Ei Sun, the founding president and his new team will work hard as a bridge between the people of China and Malaysia, especially Sabah,” he said.

Also present at the occasion were, Deputy Chief Minister cum Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Edward Khoo, Li Shugang, the consul-general of China in Kuching, Weng Xiaojie, deputy chairman of the Fujian Province Overseas Chinese Federation, and Dr Oh.