Lau (centre) leads a delegation from KTS Group to the reception. From left are Wendy, Liu’s wife Sun Xia and Liu. — Photos by Chimon Upon
Taib (left) shakes hands with Lau upon his arrival at the event. On Taib’s left are Ragad and Liu.
Liu (second left) leads the toast for prosperity in the Year of the Goat. From left are Wong, Taib, Ragad and Liu’s wife Sun Xia.
KUCHING: Malaysians have been encouraged to explore and grasp the enormous opportunities in China’s rapidly growing economy.
The People’s Republic of China Consul General in Kuching Liu Quan emphasised the importance of building relations and understanding through greater exchange between governments, businesses and people in order to enjoy development and prosperity together.
“The Chinese Consulate General in Kuching is more than willing to offer assistance and services to you all,” he said during its Chinese New Year red carpet reception on Friday.
Among state dignitaries and VIPs in attendance were Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib; Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh; Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; Assistant Public Health Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and KTS Group managing director Dato Henry Lau and wife Datin Wendy Lau.
Liu stressed that in the next 10 years, China’s overseas investment has been estimated to reach US$1.25 trillion, and China would import US$10 trillion worth of commodities in the next five years.
“China is in the process of kicking off the operations of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and has allocated US$40 billion to set up a Silk Road Fund,” he said.
“I sincerely hope our Malaysian friends will seize the business opportunities present.”
He pointed out that China has made astonishing achievements since 1978 to become the second biggest economy in the world and the largest trading country globally.
“For the first time last year, China’s GDP (gross domestic product) reached US$10 trillion. But at present, China’s economic growth is slowing down, entering a mode of what we call ‘new normal’,” he said.
“There is, however, no need to worry, as China has a market of 1.3 billion people and the potential for development is huge.”
China’s economic growth, he explained, is now changing for the better in terms of quality and efficiency.
“We are now attaching more importance to the decisive role of the market in allocating resources and to the driving force of innovation,” he said.
He expressed confidence that through hard work, Chinese nationals can realise the “China Dream” of a more prosperous, democratic and harmonious country by the year 2049.
Liu explained that the focus would be on developing friendly relations with China’s neighbouring countries.
“We have put forward a grand blueprint of building a 21st century Maritime Silk Road, which will be conducive to the connectivity between us,” he said.
“I believe that its implementation is favourable in our pursuit to a peaceful, cooperative, mutually beneficial and common development.”
Meanwhile, Liu highlighted that relations between China and Sarawak have achieved fruitful results especially during activities held to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia last year.
“All these help to promote greater understanding and friendship between our people and strengthens ties between our two great nations. For that, I would like to say thank you,” he said.
Liu added that the significant economic development in Sarawak, notably the progress made in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), as well as Sarawak’s strong commitment to maintain social harmony will pave the way for a brighter future.