Malaysia an ideal host to connect global Chinese diaspora - Rais Yatim

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can be an ideal host in connecting the global Chinese diaspora and becoming the bridge between the East and the West.

Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia has had a long-standing and close relationship with China since diplomatic ties were established in 1974.

He noted that the two countries have been working closely together for the past 48 years in the trade, culture, education, security and people-to-people relations.

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“China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In turn, Malaysia is China’s ninth-largest trading partner,” Rais said at the Global Chinese Economic and Technology Summit (GCET) 2022 here today. 

He said that beyond business and trade, the people-to-people relations between Malaysia and China are strong, as, for example, many sister cities are established such as Penang and Xiamen in China.

“The shared culture and language between the Chinese citizens and Malaysians of Chinese ethnicity is a key strength in our relations,” he said.

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Rais also said that in furthering the China-Malaysia and ASEAN-China relations, GCET can strengthen track two diplomacy (or non-governmental relationships between private citizens or groups of individuals), especially in bringing investors, businesspeople and think tanks together.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI) president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh said that as a result of the pandemic and the focus on recovery, partnership, leadership and cooperation at the global level is imperative.

“(Hence), GCET (has) focused on the four ‘Ps’, (namely), peace, partnerships, people and planet, for globally shared prosperity,” he said.

GCET 2022 was a one-day online and face-to-face summit jointly organised by KSI, the Shandong Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the China-ASEAN Business Association, the China Development Institute, and the Cheng Ho Multiculture Education Trust.

More than 250 leading figures in business, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and diplomatic corps attended the event.

-- BERNAMA