THANK YOU: Yong (right) receives Chinese traditional artwork pottery from Li.
KUCHING: Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng said the trade between China and Malaysia was estimated at US$90 billion last year.
“Currently, China remains the largest trading partner to Malaysia, and Malaysia is also the largest trading partner to China within Asean.”
He said as all knows, the economy of Europe and America is in crisis and China is believed to have the potential to become the world’s largest economy in the future.
“Therefore, I call upon our local business sectors to grab the opportunities ahead. Be united and expand their market and financial strengths so as to tap the huge market,” Yong said at the Lunar New Year reception of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China here on Monday.
He said the diplomatic relationship between the two countries established since 1974 had endured and flourished. Malaysia’s trade with China had been growing steadily and healthily.
“Malaysia and China had maintained harmony and stability in the region and further the dynamic economic development which benefits their communities and the world at large,” said Yong who is Stampin MP.
Also present were Minister of Finance and Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Li Shugang.
Li said last year was significant to Chinese people who celebrated the 100th anniversary of Xinhai Revolution, and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
He said: “We have been through many hardship and achievements in the democratic progress, and we are looking forward to a prosperous future on the premise of remembering the historical mission that revitalises China.”
In the past year, facing complex international situation and arduous tasks in continuing domestic reforms, Chinese people of all ethnic groups had united in their undertakings.
“A stable and relatively fast economic growth has been maintained by GDP growth rate of about 9.3 per cent. We have accomplished the start of the 12th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development,” he said.
Li added that many important cooperate agreements had been signed in many fields, which promoted cooperation into much higher levels and broader fields.
“In 2011, the bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia reached US$90.035 billion, with a growth rate of 21.3 per cent,” he said.
He was deeply convinced that with joint efforts of the two governments and people, the friendly relationship between China and Malaysia would be consolidated.
“The coming year is the Chinese dragon year based on Chinese culture. It means a great deal for global Chinese. The Chinese dragon brings power, luck and success,” said Li.