Yang Berhormat Tuan Tan Kok Wai,
Malaysia’s Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council

His Excellency Ambassador Bai Tian,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia

Mr Qiu ZhiKun,
Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China(Hong Kong) Limited

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning to you all,

1. On behalf of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all the business representatives from Malaysia and China. Thank you for your support in making this business matching event between Malaysian and Chinese companies a very meaningful one. I would also like to thank YB Tuan Tan Kok Wai for launching this business matching event.

2. Firstly, please allow me to brief our friends from abroad about ACCCIM. Founded in 1921, ACCCIM is the national-level organisation of the Chinese chambers of commerce in the country. ACCCIM has 17

3. Constituent Members located in the 13 states and Federal Territories of Malaysia. ACCCIM is a well-established organisation with an extensive business network of over 100,000 direct and indirect members, representing local businesses, entrepreneurs, and trade associations. Membership of ACCCIM include Eminent Members, Associate Members, and more than 5,000 young entrepreneurs. Since ACCCIM assumed the leadership of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) in 2016, we have also been working very closely with all races from the business sectors to thrive for business opportunities, formulate proposals to the government to drive the Nation’s economic growth.

4. ACCCIM has established a strong, inclusive and extensive business network in Malaysia. We also help local businesses reach out to business opportunities beyond Malaysia by participating in International Expos, the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC), business forums and signing MOUs in order to strengthen our ties and explore opportunities with businesses abroad.
The business matching event today is the second joint effort by the Embassy of China, ACCCIM and Bank of China since the first event in 2018. Prompted by His Excellency Ambassador Bai Tian, and in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, we decided to scale-up the size and level of this business matching event. The event has attracted the participation of more than 350 companies and over 700 business representatives from Malaysia and China. I hope to see significant numbers of matches, generating more fruitful connections and collaboration between Malaysia and China.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

5. Malaysia and China have come a long way since the first trade delegation to China in 1971 by PERNAS (Perbadanan Nasional Berhad) and chambers of commerce and industry, which paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China in 1974. As one of the first South East Asian country to establish links with China, Malaysia has witnessed the success that China achieved in reforming and opening-up, which also resulted in the significant growth of trade and an ever-closer relationship between Malaysia and China.

6. According to statistics from Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry, bilateral trade between Malaysia and China was merely US$159 million when diplomatic ties first began; but by the end of 2018, it has grown by leaps and bounds to US$108.6 billion, an increase of 683 times. In fact, China remains Malaysia’s largest trade partner for 10 consecutive years; up to this April, China constituted 7% of Malaysia’s total trade. From 2016 to 2018, China is the top foreign investor in the manufacturing sector for consecutive 3 years with investments totaling up to US$29 billion across more than 400 projects in various parts of Malaysia. The statistics further suggest that this momentum will continue to grow.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. A good example of the Malaysia-China collaboration is the “two countries, twin parks” model of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (CMQIP) and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP). After signing an MOU with the CMQIP administrative committee, the ACCCIM has successfully registered the “ACCCIM Qinzhou Industrial Park Sdn Bhd” in this July. We have also set-up a representative office that is responsible for investment recruitment service for the Malaysia Innovation Cluster, which will provide consultation services for Malaysian businesses to organise roadshows, to promote the development of the Innovation Cluster, and to pave the way for Malaysian companies to set-up their factories and business in China.

8. Furthermore, the Greater Bay Area, which was initiated, planned and endorsed by President Xi Jinping, is also a major destination for ACCCIM to help local businesses expand their business outreach. We have planned a trade mission with Malaysian investors from all races to visit and survey the business opportunities in the Greater Bay area. I hope that both Malaysian and Chinese businesses will take this opportunity to connect and establish business collaboration and fulfill our objectives of connecting businesses!

9. The warm relationship between Malaysia and China has achieved significant results in various areas. Since commencing in 2016, Xiamen University Malaysia is the first Chinese University established overseas and it marks a new chapter for academic collaboration between our two countries. It is also very meaningful that the university originally founded by Tan Kah-Kee, the well-known and patriotic overseas Chinese, had established its first overseas campus in Malaysia more than 90 years after its founding.

10. Xiamen University Malaysia recruits students from China as well as Malaysians from all races, receiving their education in a diverse and multi-cultural setting. These future graduates will benefit from living and forming friendships with people across the Belt and Road, and will be excellent ambassadors of the deepening bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China.

Ladies and gentlemen,

11. Once again, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Embassy of China and Bank of China for your trust and support – may we continue to work together in organizing business events, fostering trade and economic collaboration projects between Malaysia and China, and to create more value-add for the business sectors. I would also like to thank all the supporting government agencies and business organisation for your great support. And to our friends who came all the way from China – Selamat Datang!

12. Lastly, I wish all the participants from Malaysia and China to the very best in your businesses.

Thank you!