REMARKS BY
YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM
PRIME MINISTER
IN CONJUNCTION
THE 20TH CHINA-ASEAN EXPO (CAEXPO) 2023
17 SEPTEMBER 2023 (SUNDAY)
NANNING, GUANGXI ZHUANG AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA
Assalamualaikum and very Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,
Premier Li Qiang;
Excellencies;
ASEAN Leaders;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ge wei lai bin da jia hao (Hello, dear guests)
- It was in 1457 that the world understood globalization and international trade. The emissary from China sending the largest Armada known to the world led by Admiral Zheng He, a Muslim from China. So when we talk about globalization and international trade, China has led the way.
- The Sultanate of Malacca, Malaysia hosted the delegation with trust, friendship, sincerity, inclusivity, the trademark of the philosophy and vision of President Xi Jinping. Not concern about intimidation, colonialism or imperialism. That is why Premier Li Qiang, I come from Malaysia, ASEAN to China to continue this friendship based on trust, inclusivity and sincerity and I thank you the Chinese Government in particular Guangxi and Nanning.
- That is also precisely the reason why we, Malaysia in ASEAN takes China as a friend, a neighbor, an important trading partner, a country that has achieved considerable and phenomenal progress. To trust them and work together though maintaining ASEAN, ASEAN entrality and fiercely independent like Malaysia.
- We have no innovation and even in controversial decisions on 5G, we take what is best for the country. We take the technology from the west and technology from China, in particular Huawei. Without being threaten or pressure because as I said, we work based on trust and confidence for centuries of relationship between Malaysia and China.
- Premier Li Qiang, this is my third meeting this year, Beijing, Jakarta and now the beautiful city of Nanning. I am impressed by your statement, confidence and reassurances following the vision, the leadership of President Xi Jinping. I look forward therefore, to continue to enhance not only the bilateral relations, but also relations between our two countries.
- ASEAN has been alluded to earlier in our top training partner for 14 consecutive years, for Malaysia, China remains our primary export destination, exceeding RM200 billion, growing by 9.4 per cent to RM210.6 billion (USD47.8 billion) in 2022.
- ASEAN remains as an attractive destination for international investment, charting an economic growth of 5.5 per cent in 2022, with a projected 4.6 per cent in 2023. It is therefore vital for ASEAN and China to diversify their trade investment strategies notwithstanding the geopolitical tensions and hosts of other destabilizing factors.
- Our focus, our collective efforts must be on regional peace, stability, prosperity and fostering bilateral and multilateral relations. The Asean Economic Recovery Framework also gives additional emphasis on the critical micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which is integral to my country and I believe, most of the ASEAN member states. It contributes 85 per cent of employment, 44.8 per cent to GDP and 18 per cent to national export in ASEAN.
- I am optimistic that CAEXPO will continue to serve as a catalyst to our businessmen fostering trade collaboration and stimulating economic recovery. The exhibition which I look forward to see and enjoy symbolizes the collaboration under the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement.
- We have experienced in the last decade the China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI) has been instrumental in solidifying relations between the region. In Malaysia, we have even embarked on this Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) with “Two Countries, Twin Parks” concept which is exemplary.
- Beyond that, as we believe in Asia – trade, investments, part and parcel remains fundamental but we share the shared future and the vision of President Xi Jinping that in our relationship is extend beyond that into what he termed as civilizational understanding and relations which I propose as the MADANI concept.
- So thank you very much Premier Li Qiang and our host for this great opportunity and event and I look forward to foster better relations in the future.
Xie Xie. Thank you very much.