KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce expects bilateral trade between Malaysia and China to exceed USD100 billion this year.
Its Sabah branch president, Datuk Lau Kok Sing, said the bilateral trade between both nations was recorded at around USD35.6 billion as of May this year.
“Last year the bilateral trade between Malaysia and China stood at USD91 billion and we expect it to exceed USD100 billion this year,” he said in an interview here yesterday.
The Sabah branch of the chamber, led by Lau, recently organized a trip to Hong Kong, Xi’an and Shanghai in China to learn more about the tourism and development in China.
The chamber invited Head of State Tun Haji Juhar Haji Mahiruddin and wife Toh Puan Norlidah R.M. Jasni as well as Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin to join the trip.
Also among those in the China trip were Lau’s wife, Datin Lim Su Chin, the chamber’s honorary advisor, Datuk James Hwong, vice president Frankie Liew, internal auditor Datuk Alan Ang Banth Suoon, deputy secretary-general Dexter Lau Wei Dick and member Koh Kian Ling.
“The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce was established not long ago, and so it was our honour and a form of recognition and encouragement that the TYT could come with us on this trip,” Lau said.
He said the chamber would organize more trips to bring Sabahan entrepreneurs to China, adding that there are opportunities in the tourism and hotel industries.
On the other hand, Lau also hoped to bring more Chinese investors to the State to explore opportunities in agriculture, oil and gas and the rubber industries in the near future.
He added that Chinese who have come to Sabah had commended its beautiful scenary, and on this trip, he said the local officers had pledged to bring more people to visit Sabah.
Among the places the group visited include Terracotta Warrior and Horses, Qing Shi Huang Maosoleum, The Great Mosque, Yu Garden, and The Bund in China.
“The Great Mosque has over 1,000 years of history. Our TYT had the chance to speak to a worker at the mosque as well as study ancient scripture carved on a slab of stone.
“Malaysia’s former Prime Ministers Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad and Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi had also visited this place before,” Lau quipped.