Speech by Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Member of the Malaysian Parliament

20th September 2019

Enhancing Mutual Development with the Belt & Road Initiative:

Painting a Vision of Cooperation

in conjunction with the

The 16^th China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

In Nanning, Guangxi, China

On the 21^st to the 24^th of September, 2019

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,

1. A Glorious 70 Years Striving for a New Era

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. I would like to express my warmest congratulations on China’s accomplishments and wish the people of China a prosperous future.

Coincidentally, my party - the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) - is also celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Over the course of 70 years as a representative political party of the Malaysian Chinese, we remain dedicated to fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to us by the founding fathers of the party. Throughout history, in 1957 MCA formed an alliance with other ethnic groups to fight for Malaya’s independence and in 1963, built a multicultural Malaysia. Another major milestone is set when we pushed and facilitated bilateral diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China in 1974, making Malaysia the first country in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with China. Over the past 45 years, we have continued to do so to improve relations between the two countries. Dear guests, we each have had a glorious 70 years and China-Malaysia diplomatic ties can be traced back a long way. In the past, MCA has sought to improve relations between China and Malaysia, and MCA will continue to do so in the present and the future as our two countries strive for a new era.

It is without a doubt that the relationship between China and Malaysia is at its best over the last 6 years with the initiation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Despite political volatility in Malaysia, Malaysia and China continues to make good progress in general in terms of bilateral and multilateral trade, infrastructure, youth exchange, culture, education, academics, tourism, and other fields. This is something to be proud of and I look forward to the future where both countries can achieve greater heights.

2. MCA on initiating the Belt and Road Initiative

Ladies and gentlemen, the Malaysian Chinese Association fully understands and agrees with the principles of achieving shared growth through discussions and collaborations and Chairman Xi’s utopian vision to reach a win-win cooperation with all countries and building a future where everyone has a stake at the heart of the Belt and Road Initiative. On the 26^th of April this year during the opening ceremony of the 2^nd Belt and Road Forum, Chairman Xi stressed that the crux of the Belt and Road Initiative lies in connectivity and nations should build long-lasting partnerships to move towards a better future together. It is a calling that strikes a resonating chord with MCA and we look forward to it very much.

Since 2013, MCA has been working closely with China Economic Cooperation Centre to organize the “Belt and Road Initiative: China-Malaysia Business Dialogue”. MCA has also established a PRC Affairs Committee and a Belt and Road Initiative Centre called MBRACE to facilitate bilateral projects for the Belt and Road Initiative between Malaysia and China. To help Malaysians understand and support the Belt and Road Initiative, on the 12^th of December 2016, MCA led Chinese organisations within Malaysia to sign the first ever Malaysian Chinese Belt and Road Declaration. This is MCA’s duty as a responsible political party to lead Chinese associations in Malaysia to initiatives that are politically, economically, socially, and educationally beneficial to the society.

Dear guests, China has become ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years, and ASEAN likewise has become China’s second largest trading partner. At the same time, China continues to be Malaysia’s major trading partner with trades estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. I would like to reiterate MCA’s stand that the effort we put into the mutual development of the Belt and Road Initiative is for the greater good of the public. We understand that the proposal is likely to bring great economic value to Malaysia and the volume of trade between Malaysia and China now is our best defence.

3. On “Two countries, twin parks” model - opening links over land and sea”

Ladies and gentlemen, substantial educational exchanges between China and Malaysia are important and especially crucial in providing better support for the Belt and Road Initiative. Thus, MCA reached out to Xiamen University and in 2016, Xiamen University Malaysia began its launch to produce talent in Malaysia. Under the framework of “Belt and Road Initiative”, both Malaysia and China achieved remarkable results in its cooperation and one of these achievements is the “two countries, twin parks” model mentioned in the joint announcement in the 2^nd Belt and Road Forum International Cooperation.

The model - an emblem of a successful partnership between Malaysia and China - renovated the sino-foreign cooperative joint venture in building industrial parks. Besides being an ongoing bilateral business venture, the model has attracted high levels of interest from the leaders of both countries and received attention from ASEAN countries as well. Today, Qinzhou in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Kuantan Industrial Park located in Pahang, Malaysia are linkages to boost economic development and drive high-tech industries. Like Xiamen University and its overseas campus in Malaysia, the “two countries, two parks” model is a grand collaborative project that focuses on the present to build a better future for the next generation. The Malaysian and Chinese government along with private sectors will continue to provide support to its continuation.

Running on the operational conceptualization of linking ports, the connectivity between Qinzhou port and Kuantan port has yielded an increase in the quality and quantity of goods. Kuantan port is now undergoing rapid expansions and improvements to increase throughput and to become a high-tech, low-carbon emission international industrial park. It aims to become a new pace setter in the China-ASEAN free trade area. Qinzhou, Kuantan and the bilateral relations between China and Malaysia does not stop here. The East Coast Rail Link is another example of interconnection between Malaysia and China under the Belt and Road Initiative. Throughout human history, high-speed railways are important to the development of a country. For example, by the end of 2018, China’s high-speed rail mileage reached over 29,000 kilometers. The World Bank affirmed China’s success in rail construction in their China’s High-Speed Rail Development report and commented on its increased efficiency, safety measures, and reduction in emissions. The high-speed rail also brought about an increase in movement of labour forces and tourism. It is an achievement that Malaysia and ASEAN countries can learn from.

4. On Logistics Infrastructure and Cross Border E-Commerce

According to the Malaysia’s Logistics and Trade Facilitation Masterplan, 2015-2020, the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) and Alibaba Group led Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) are important components for the masterplan. Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) will be a part of the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) in which will support the Belt and Road Initiative.

The “China-ASEAN Cross Border E-Commerce Development Survey” released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Information Centre in September 2018 revealed that ASEAN has become the 9th largest cross-border e-commerce partner of China and one of China’s largest e-commerce export market after the United States and the European Union in 2016. In the same year, Malaysia comes in 3rd place after Thailand and Singapore according to the cross border e-commerce index between China and the 10 ASEAN countries as our biscuits and instant coffees are popular amongst the Chinese compared to other products.

Ladies and gentlemen, as of March 2018, Alibaba Group had invested US$40 billion into Southeast Asia's largest Business-to-Commerce (B2C) platform LAZADA. Jack Ma also sparked off digital economy in Malaysia. Though recently resigned as Alibaba’s chairman that is the talk of the town, comments largely maintain that the Alibaba Group’s greatest achievement for the past 20 years is realising the Chinese dream. I believe this is also a worldwide dream to build Man’s fortune as it is. We are happy that Jack Ma and Alibaba Group decided to set up the 1st overseas Electronic World Trade Platform test zone also known as the “Malaysia Data Free Trade Zone” in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. Though Malaysia experienced a transition of power in the government, nonetheless MCA will continue to remain supportive and hopeful of the plan to put into realisation as knowledge-based data economy is the current global economic development trend. I encourage all ASEAN nations to come together to create a borderless knowledge-based economy to achieve common prosperity and new heights.

5. Bringing together Belt and Road Initiative to paint a vision

Dear guests, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 45th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations. This is also the launch of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 with many projects requiring cooperation to complete. Looking into the strategic deployment of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and ASEAN, I believe that many commercial opportunities are available within the region. Thus it is up to us to strive for cooperation amongst various sectors to higher, broader, and deeper levels of development.

Since 2013, Chinese tourists have occupied the largest number of tourists in Malaysia. Our country is blessed with a tropical climate, lovely stretches of beaches, and hospitable people. Our language, culture, food, and local customs warms the hearts of many and we go the extra length to make people feel at home. From a historical, cultural, geographical, and commercial point of view, Malaysia has always been China’s trusted partner in realising the Belt and Road Initiative and studies have continuously shown that Malaysia is one of the largest benefiting countries from its very initiation.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased that Malaysia signed the Joint Communiqué of the Leaders’ Roundtable of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on the 27th of April this year. It shows that we agree on international developments together and driving pragmatic cooperation to enhance the well-being of the people. I would like to stress that improving the well-being of the people is the responsibility of all political parties and all nations, and to this, MCA will provide our greatest support to help the people.

This year’s China-ASEAN expo provides a platform for ASEAN nations to come together and have in-depth discussions to build a stronger community within China and ASEAN on realising the Belt and Road Initiative. Once again, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the success of the expo and to new positive elements in bridging closer ties between ASEAN and China. Let us build a better future together as friends and cheers to a long-lasting friendship!

Thank You!

 -MCA online-