Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Working Visit to China: Boosting Economic Ties
Day 3 of Working Visit to Shanghai
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will begin the third day of his working visit to Shanghai, China, with a Dialogue Session with Chinese investors organized by Khazanah Nasional Bhd. The investors participating in the session include Chengwei Capital and NRL Capital.
Objective of the Working Visit
Earlier, Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad stated that the objective of Anwar’s four-day working visit to China starting November 4 is to meet potential investors to boost the country’s economy. "The focus this time is the economy. A busy schedule awaits the Prime Minister, including meetings with companies that have the potential to invest in Malaysia," he said in a press conference in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s visit to China, on November 4.
Meetings and Roundtable Session
In Shanghai, the Prime Minister is expected to meet several companies and hold a roundtable session with 23 ‘captains of industry’. The Prime Minister is expected to depart from Shanghai in the afternoon, marking the first stop before Beijing.
Accompanying the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
7th China International Import Expo (7th CIIE)
The Prime Minister’s working visit to China is at the invitation of his counterpart Li Qiang to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (7th CIIE) in Shanghai. CIIE is a trade fair organized by the Chinese government that provides a platform for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to promote and export goods and services to the country.
Malaysia-China Trade Relations
For 15 consecutive years since 2009, China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner. In 2023, total trade with China was valued at RM450.84 billion (US$98.80 billion), contributing to 17.1% of Malaysia’s global trade. As of September 2024, the recorded total trade was RM355.15 billion (US$76.72 billion). In the first half of 2024, a total of 15 manufacturing projects were implemented with investment totaling RM1.2 billion (US$252.5 million).
Conclusion
The Prime Minister’s working visit to China is a significant step in strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The dialogue session with Chinese investors and the roundtable session with captains of industry are expected to yield promising outcomes, paving the way for increased investment and trade between Malaysia and China.
FAQs
Q: What is the objective of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s working visit to China?
A: The objective is to meet potential investors to boost the country’s economy.
Q: Who are the investors participating in the dialogue session?
A: Chengwei Capital and NRL Capital are participating in the dialogue session.
Q: What is the focus of the Prime Minister’s working visit?
A: The focus is on the economy, with meetings with companies that have the potential to invest in Malaysia.