(July 26, 2022)

Mr. Mohd Sahil Zabidi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Kulim Technology Park Corporation Sdn. Bhd.,

Mr. Yue Liuchang, Deputy General Manager of the International Business Department of China Construction Bank Head Office,

Mr. Wang Qijie, General Manager of China Construction Bank (Malaysia) Berhad,

Mr. Michael Yuan, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.,

Dr. Jennifer Low Moi Ing, Managing Director of Quill Group, 

Heads of branches of China Construction Bank in China,

Distinguished guests and friends,

Good morning!

I am very glad to be invited to attend the 2022 “Silk Road Manufacturing - Malaysia Kulim Hi-Tech Park Cross-Border Matchmaking Event” jointly organized by China Construction Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Kulim Technology Park Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., and the Quill Group, and the seven branches of China Construction Bank (CCB) in China. CCB proactively follows the trend of development, implements the new development philosophy, and promotes China-Malaysia economic, trade, and investment cooperation with taking new financial actions. On behalf of the Consulate General of China in Penang, I would like to extend congratulations to the organizers for hosting this event! At the same time, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to CCB for the invitation.

Since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China and related countries have actively promoted policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. At present, over 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents have been signed between China and 149 countries and 32 international organizations, and pragmatic cooperation has achieved fruitful results. In 2021, Chinese enterprises’ investment in countries along the Belt and Road was 20.3 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 14.1 percent, which promotes the economic and social development of China and the host countries, so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

In 2017, at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping proposed that we should pursue innovation-driven development and intensify cooperation in frontier areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and quantum computing, and advance the development of big data, cloud computing, and smart cities so as to turn them into a digital silk road of the 21st century. The construction of a digital silk road will help narrow the digital gap among different countries. China is willing to work with countries along the Belt and Road to follow the trends of new technological revolution and industrial development, empower the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry with digital economy, and promote extensive cooperation in the field of intelligent manufacturing.

Manufacturing industry is the foundation and support for countries along the Belt and Road to achieve industrial revitalization and sustainable economic development. Intelligent manufacturing led by information technology will play a decisive role in the future development of the manufacturing industry. In 2021, China promulgated the 14th Five-Year Plan for Intelligent Manufacturing Development and the 14th Five-Year Plan for Digital Economy Development to clarify the main goals, key tasks, and policy measures for the future development of intelligent manufacturing and digital economy. Malaysia has formulated development plans such as the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan, MyDigital, etc., focusing on the development of digital economy, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), smart industry, and modern services industry. China and Malaysia share the same vision for development, and the enterprises of the two countries have huge potential for cooperation in the fields of intelligent manufacturing and digital economy. 

Malaysia has attracted many foreign investors with its advantageous location, favorable business environment, and complete infrastructure. Kedah attracted a record high of RM 68.3 billion investments in 2021, ranking second in Malaysia, with Kulim Hi-Tech Park playing an important role. Since its official operation in 1996, Kulim Hi-Tech Park has have struck deep roots in the frontier fields of modern science and technology, and has continuously attracted the advanced manufacturing enterprises in the fields of electrical and electronic, green energy, medicine and biology to set up their bases, including three leading Chinese enterprises in the related industries, namely Risen Energy Co., Ltd, Jinjing (Group) Co., Ltd, and Suzhou Good-Ark Electronics Co., Ltd. I would like to welcome more Chinese enterprises to come and pay a visit to Malaysia, carry out research and invest in Malaysia, actively promote cooperation, and seize development opportunities.

This year marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, and the bilateral relations of the two countries have continued to develop steadily and soundly. Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia, and the year after next will be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Malaysia was a complete success. The visit sets new goals and clarifies new priorities for bilateral relations, so as to push bilateral cooperation to scale new heights. The series of consensus reached by the two sides include advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which has particularly pointed out that it is necessary to foster new growth drivers for cooperation such as digital economy and green development, and jointly enhance competitiveness and improve the level of development. China is willing to share the high-quality development opportunities of the manufacturing industry with Malaysia, and jointly write a new chapter in the green development of China and Malaysia.

The Consulate General of China in Penang will, as always, provide support and assistance to the economic and trade investment cooperation between Chinese provinces and cities and Kedah, promote the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Malaysia, and boost the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries at national and local levels to a new height.

Last but not least, I wish this event a great success! I wish all guests and friends good health, success in your work, and all the best!

Thank you！