Forty-six Chinese groups in Malaysia affirm support for China strategy
The signing ceremony is a ‘declaration’ of support for ‘the Government’s efforts in pushing for’ the Malaysia-China bilateral cooperation’
Forty-six Chinese guilds and associations in Malaysia have signed the Belt and Road Declaration initiated by MCA to show their support for the ambitious strategy from China.
The signing ceremony at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur, was witnessed by party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Huang Huikang.
Among others, the declaration expressed their commitment to promoting peaceful co-existence and a win-win cooperation in strengthening existing friendly Malaysia-China ties.
They also voiced their support for the Belt and Road Initiative and believed that it would open up new opportunities for development as well as greatly contribute towards regional stability and prosperity.
Encouraged by the warm response, Liow said this was proof that the local Chinese community valued the Malaysia-China ties that had been formally established in 1974.
“Through this declaration, we can affirm that the Malaysia-China bilateral cooperation is built on frankness and equality for mutual benefit. We insist on the principle of moderation, peace and openness, and strongly oppose any extreme and malicious comment or action that undermines our bilateral friendship,” he said.
In his speech, Liow also decried the irresponsible and negative remarks over the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China, which saw the highest investments from China, adding that this would create unnecessary hate and conflict.
MCA leaders, think-tanks and professionals, he added, had immediately refuted such claims with facts and figures.
“But that is not enough. We need to unite the strength of all Chinese groups to support the Government’s efforts in pushing for the bilateral cooperation. Hence, the declaration was born,” he said here yesterday.
MCA, said Liow, was not competing for fame or fortune but was only aspiring to remain steadfast in helping the Chinese community reap economic benefits.
Dr Huang said trade between Malaysia and China currently hovered around US$100 billion, with November figures showing positive growth.
“According to Chinese customs data, trade in November recorded a 19.6% increase to US$8.47 billion. Imports from Malaysia to China rose 25.8% to US$4.78 billion,” he said, adding that they were confident of achieving a historical high in bilateral trade next year.
Citing an online shopping festival in China yesterday, Dr Huang said Malaysia was also commemorating another kind of “Double 12” by “shopping for Belt and Road treasures”.
During the event, the MCA Belt and Road Centre (Mbrace), located on the sixth floor of Wisma MCA, was also launched, serving as a platform for consultation, education and information exchange as well as business matching.
MCA China affairs committee chairman Datuk Seri Chuah Poh Khiang said Mbrace would operate like a “mobile charity clinic” to “listen to the pulse” of small-and medium-sized enterprises nationwide to help them transform and expand overseas.
Mbrace, he said, would be working closely with the Secretariat for the Advancement of Malaysian Entrepreneurs under the Prime Minister’s Department, local Chinese associations, China’s governmental departments and others.
Five memorandums of understanding (MoU), including one between Mbrace and Eurasia Trade, Culture and Exhibition Centre to set up an office in Guangzhou, were also signed.
