KLANG: Malaysia maintained strong financial and commercial cooperation with China despite a slowdown, said Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting (pic).
The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China said Malaysia remained China's largest trading partner in Asean with bilateral trade totalling US$97.35bil last year.
''The trade volume for both 2013 and 2014 surpassed the US$100bil mark.
''The achievement for 2015, although slightly less, is still a strong figure considering the strengthening of the US dollar,'' he said after opening a Chinese New Year calligraphy and painting event at the Klang Hokkien Association here Sunday.
The event was held to achieve a 500ft-long calligraphy piece to be listed in the Malaysia Book of Records.
Present was Ong's wife Puan Sri Wendy Chong Siew Mei, an avid calligrapher, who penned the word of 'monkey' in Chinese on the white scroll.
Ong noted that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), small and medium industries (SMIs), the service sector and financial cooperation between Malaysia and China were full of potential and could still be further strengthened and expanded.
"'We still need to work hard, not only to maintain but boost our future trade figures with China.
"As the festive season draws near, the Chinese community has been a very important force in driving the SMEs and SMIs forward and contributed to Malaysia-China trade.
"We should continue to work hard to contribute. The country can still prosper as a whole if the people work hard,'' he said, adding that Malaysians need to be resilient to withstand a challenging year ahead.
Ong called on Malaysians to emulate the spirit of the legendary Monkey God in the famous Journey to the West saga.
''The sun wu kong is always efficient, agile, righteous, helpful to the needy and will always stand up against the evil power.
"We should always make ourselves a positive and constructive force in society,'' he said.
Ong also noted that the Monkey God's negative values - his impulsive actions, impatience manner and quick nature - should be avoided.
"We should always look at ourselves and review our weaknesses,'' he added.
