KOTA KINABALU: The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu is willing to serve as a bridge to realize bigger developments and further enhance the friendship between Malaysia and China, said the Consul General Chen Peijie.
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the One Belt One Road initiative two years ago, the Silk Road Fund was subsequently formed last year, followed by the launch of the Vision and Actions of the initiative in March this year, and the signing of agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing in June.
Chen said the first project would be launched by year end while each province in China would gradually introduce their own development plans for the One Belt One Road initiative.
She said Malaysia, including Sabah, was an important country along the Maritime Silk Road historically.
Many Chinese migrants have travelled along this route to Malaysia, where they formed associations, established businesses and founded schools and led to the success of local Chinese associations, businessmen and education today.
Malaysia plays an equally important role in the 21st Maritime Silk Road, she said at a dialogue session held in conjunction with the visit by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government led by its director, Ji Ning, at the KKCCCI building here on Wednesday.
Apart from its convenience, Chen said Sabah, blessed with geographical advantage, has rich natural resources, friendly people and good development prospect, particularly as the local Chinese associations have the unique advantage of having close relations with their counterparts in China, thereby enabling them to strengthen cooperation in tourism, culture, trade and other fields with China.
We need to consider how we can make use of these advantages and turn them into tangible collaborations, she said.
On the other hand, Chen said Shanghai had always been the leading power of Chinas economic development since the countrys Open Door Policy.
She said the Chinese enterprises had amassed USD 18.4 billion in venture capital through the Free Trade Zone in Shanghai to invest in 607 foreign investment projects.
“It will bring unlimited business opportunities if one of two of the foreign investment projects are in Sabah.”
Chen said the Consulate General here would be willing to serve as a bridge to facilitate cooperation between people in Sabah and China.