Hamzah holds meeting with Huang

Excellent friendship: Fadillah (left) and Dr Huang celebrating the 66th anniversary of the Founding of the People

PUTRAJAYA: China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang has had a two-hour meeting with acting Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

The meeting took place at Hamzah’s office at the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consum­erism Ministry here yesterday.

Dr Huang and an aide arrived at the office at 11.40am. They left at 2pm via a different exit through the basement, avoiding media personnel who gathered at the lobby.

The media had waited since 7am at Wisma Putra here, where the meeting was thought to be scheduled, before rushing to Hamzah’s ministry after a tip-off.

Later in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Huang said Malaysia and China had enjoyed several centuries of bilateral ties or “cultural friendship”.

“Malaysia is our good partner and neighbour. Let us further strengthen our cultural friendship,” he said during his speech at the 66th anniversary celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

He reiterated that Malaysia was China’s largest trading partner in Asean.

On China’s economy, Dr Huang said although China’s GDP growth had dropped to 7%, the value generated by its current economy outperformed the years when it enjoyed double-digit growth.

“China’s foreign trade is worth US$4 trillion (RM17.5 trillion). We contributed to more than 30% of world economic growth in the first half of this year,” he said.

Later, when asked about his visit to the ministry, Dr Huang declined to comment, saying that he was busy hosting the event.

Also present were Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, the Prime Minister’s special envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, International Trade and Industry Minister II Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and Deputy Women, Family and Community Develop­ment Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that it was a “normal” activity for Dr Huang to visit the Chinese community during the Mid-Autumn Festival. He said China did “not interfere in other countries’ domestic politics or intervene in other countries’ internal affairs”.

“China and Malaysia are friendly neighbours. We hope that Malaysia can maintain national unity and stability and ethnic harmony,” Reuters reported Hong as saying at a daily news briefing yesterday.

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