Investors from China urged to invest in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is looking to woo more investors from China to boost economic growth.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said Chinese investors are being sought as China has been Malaysia's biggest trading partner since 2009.

"We were the first country in South East Asia to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1972. We hope the good relations between both countries will help attract more investors from China," he added.

He said this in his speech at the Yongzhou City, China-Asean Economic, Trade and Investment Forum here today.

Lim also said that for the record, Malaysian investors in China were five times more than those from China in Malaysia at present.

"I do not have the figures. But I was informed that Malaysian investors are very keen to invest in China," he added.

He said besides trading, 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia last year, compared to the 1.3 million Malaysians who visited China during the same period.

"We hope that it is just a matter of time before Chinese investors turn to Malaysia for their investments," he added.

Yongzhou City Mayor, Wei Xuan Jun who attended the Forum with her delegation, said the visit would enhance relations between Yongzhou City and Malaysia in areas such as culture, investments, tourism, education and information technology.

She said currently, Yongzhou City was working with Nagamas International Berhad to develop the Yongzhou-Asean Green Free Trade Zone and "Yongzhou Airport International Aviation Logistic Park.

"We will meet other Malaysia business leaders and corporate elites for discussions of economic and trade cooperation, project development as well as making Yongzhou and Klang as "sister cities"," she added.

Among those who attended the one-day forum were Nagamas executive chairman, Datuk Ng Kek Kiong and president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan. - BERNAMA