PM: Put MoUs to effect

BEIJING: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed Malaysian companies who have signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with their Chinese partners to put them into effect.  

The Prime Minister said all parties must carry out “all the points of agreement” these companies had entered into.  

“If they do not, it will not be good for their business and the reputation of business opportunities both in Malaysia and China,” he said at the Malaysia-China Business Dialogue here yesterday.  

Abdullah said Malaysia was well aware of the importance of China as a business partner, adding that China was set to play a pivotal role in creating new economic opportunities for the region and the world.  

China, he noted, had joined the World Trade Organisation and progressively completed its integration into the multilateral trading system.  

Malaysian businessmen, he added, saw the vast business opportunities and economic potentials in China and “that is why they have joined me in large numbers”.  

SIGNED AND SEALED: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing exchanging copies of the signed MoUs in Beijing. Abdullah, Wen (right) and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting were among those who witnessed the event.

Later, Abdullah witnessed the signing of 28 MoUs between the Malaysian and Chinese private sectors covering education, construction, healthcare, information technology, biotechnology, water treatment, travel services and others. 

Among the companies involved were SEG International with the Huludao Municipality to manage a local university, BSA Co Ltd with Fushun Aluminum Factory in the acquisition of alloy wheels, Inti College with Tsinghua University to conduct business and engineering programmes in the university.  

Pati Herba Sdn Bhd and China Bioway Biotech Group Co, which is in the process of developing an anti-SARS vaccine, also signed an MoU for research in the biovalley on traditional  

medicine and pharmaceutical products for Islamic and Asean countries.  

Earlier, Abdullah performed his Friday prayers at the Nan Xia Po Mosque, one of the oldest in China, at the Chaoyang district. 

Later, Abdullah was accorded a colourful welcoming ceremony filled with pomp and splendour at the Great Hall of the People on a bright and breezy day. 

The national anthems of both the countries were played before he inspected a 132-man guard of honour from the Chinese army, navy and air force, accompanied by a 19-gun salute. 

He then held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao at the East Hall, before adjourning to a banquet. 

Before the start of the talks, Wen said he was honoured that Abdullah had chosen China for his first visit outside Asean, which he said demonstrated the value he attached to relations between the two countries. 

“The anniversary of the 30 years of diplomatic ties will take place in a few days and your visit is of great significance to us,” he said. 

Wen recalled that before Abdullah assumed the premiership last year, he had visited China.  

“We know each other. It is my great pleasure to meet you again,” he said. 

In response, Abdullah extended his appreciation for the hospitality accorded to his delegation.  

“I am happy to be back here again. For most of us this is not our first visit,” he said, adding that he too was happy to meet Wen again. 

He hoped that the meeting would pave the way to further extend the areas of co-operation between the two countries. 

After the talks, Abdullah and Wen witnessed the signing of four MoUs between the governments and six MoUs and agreements involving the private sectors. 

The government-to-government MoUs were on education in diplomacy and international relations, co-operation in the field of WTO agreement on technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary and co-operation between the Chinese Association of Mayors and the Malaysia-China Business Council. 

The private sector agreements were between China National Electric Equipment Corp and The Group of Malaysian Companies on the 500Kv Missing Link project in Malaysia, joint venture agreement between China Bioway Biotech Group and Pati Herba Sdn Bhd to form a Research and Development Centre in the Biovalley, China International Television Corp and Astro All Asia Networks and the handover of a High-Energy X-ray Accelerator from Nutech Company Ltd to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 

The MoUs were between China Worldbest Group and Phama Niaga related to pharmaceuticals; and China Film Group and Astro All Asia Networks. 

The two leaders also exchanged commemorative stamps and first day covers by Pos Malaysia and China Post.