In an email interview, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman tells Tho Xin Yi how far bilateral relations between Malaysia and China have come, and about his hopes for the future.
Q. How have bilateral relations between Malaysia and China benefited Malaysia's development over the years? And what impact has it had on China?
Bilateral relations between Malaysia and China grew significantly and substantially since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974. In 2013, these relations were elevated from “Strategic Cooperation” to “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visionary policies. For me as the Foreign Minister, this move signalled a new level of bilateral cooperation and engagement for both countries.
Bilateral relations, in order to be close and strong, should not be clouded by one single issue. The multifaceted aspect of Malaysia’s relations with China, and of China’s with Malaysia, has ensured that the lines of communication and dialogue remain open.
Forty-three years ago, the late Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, went to Beijing for a mission which he described as “a journey of goodwill and friendship to sow the seeds of mutual understanding between Malaysia and China”. Looking back now, his vision has become a reality as the friendship between Malaysia and China is at its best in history.
The strength of the relations is a direct result of the long-standing commitment of successive leadership both in Malaysia and China, fostering and nourishing the relations into a much stronger and more broadly-based platform over the years.
The mutual trust that was built back in 1974 led both countries to explore many cooperative endeavours for mutual benefit. As a consequence, diplomatic relations have prospered and I am delighted that the wisdom and foresight of the former leaders of both countries have also brought us to where we are today – as beneficiaries of a richly rewarding relationship.
The increased diplomatic exchanges have resulted in a robust exchange of visits between both countries, including at the highest level. This is a trend that is expected to continue in the future.
During the meeting between Prime Minister Najib and President Xi Jinping, in May 2017 in Beijing, both leaders agreed that Kuala Lumpur and Beijing should continue to communicate through all available channels and platforms, including the frequent exchange of visits, to discuss the issues of common concern.
Aside from close cooperation in the economic area, both countries are actively engaging each other in the field of education, tourism, defence, agriculture, finance, transport, culture, health, natural resources and environment, science and technology, among others.
In order to foster close cooperation at this level, the interaction and engagement between Malaysia and China must be based on mutual respect between the two countries.
Q.. Foreign direct investment is a key pillar for Malaysia's development, and we have seen an increased amount of FDI from China recently. However, some people are cautious about China's "motives". How does the Government balance between FDI from China and projecting the interests of locals?
Malaysia is shifting away from a commodity-driven economy to industrial and innovation-driven. Being a small trading nation, Malaysia continues to increase productivity and attract foreign direct investments in strategic sectors to encourage resilient economic growth.
In 2016, China became Malaysia’s number one investor in the manufacturing sector. As an open economy, we do not single out any economies to invest in Malaysia.
Besides China, Malaysia has been actively engaging with multilateral and regional FTAs such as TPP, RCEP and Malaysia-EU FTA. We will continue to encourage the business communities from China and other countries to invest in Malaysia.
In order to create quality and high-income jobs for local talents, it is important to attract investments--particularly in the new growth areas in both manufacturing and services sectors such as emerging technologies and high technology, as well as capital-intensive, high value-added, knowledge-based, skills-intensive and export-oriented areas. China’s participation in these strategic projects is in line with Malaysia’s aim to be a high-income nation by 2020.
Collaboration between Chinese and Malaysian companies in high-value investment will move Malaysian companies up the local value chain in key segments of the industry in sectors such as metal, chemical/petrochemical and electric and electronics (E&E), as well as in the services sectors such as ICT, big data analytics, design and development, e-commerce, and Internet of things.
Malaysia’s policy direction and strategies such as the 11th Malaysia Plan are in line with the China government’s Outbound Investment Strategy, which focuses on building infrastructure, construction, logistics, transportation and energy, and other new development of emerging markets. These are the policies that the Government has put in place with the wellbeing of the rakyat in mind.
Q.. People-to-people exchange is an important part of both countries' bilateral ties. Malaysia has introduced lenient visa requirements for Chinese visitors in recent years. Has the Foreign Ministry been engaging with your Chinese counterpart to discuss a reciprocal visa policy for Malaysia? If so, what has been the response?
The Government of Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China have finalised and signed the Partial Abolition of Visa Requirement for Diplomatic and Official/Service Passport Holders on June 3, 2009. The Partial Visa Abolition (PVA) Agreement is to enable diplomatic passport or official/services passport holders of both countries to enter and stay in both countries for the purpose of official visits, vacations or visiting relatives for 30 days without visa requirement. As a result, there were 64 exchanges of visits recorded in 2016 at the level of Minister and Deputy Minister between Malaysia and China.
In addition to the PVA, Malaysia has also implemented the e-visa and eNTRI initiatives in 2015. Through these initiatives, Malaysia received an increasing number of tourists from China. In 2016, Malaysia received 2.1 million tourists, an increase of 26.7% compared to the number of tourists recorded in 2015.
Moving on, Malaysia is currently exploring the mechanism to expand the scope of PVA to include all passport holders. I have been informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs and its counterpart in China will be discussing on the conditions that are agreeable by both parties prior to implementing the reciprocal visa policy.
Q. In conjunction with the 60th National Day celebration, what are your wishes in terms of Malaysia's diplomatic ties with China?
Bilateral relations between Malaysia and China have progressed substantially in the last 43 years. The close relations between Malaysia and China must be based on mutual respect, trust and genuine friendship.
In this respect, I have every faith that Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with China will only continue to grow through regular communications and exchange of visits between the leaders, government and party officials as well as business enterprises from both sides.
It is satisfying to note that in these four decades of relations, cooperation has not only expanded beyond trade and investment to include education, tourism, defence, agriculture, finance, transport, culture, health, natural resources and environment, and science and technology.
There is much scope for collaboration, and much hope for expansion of those relations.
Given that Malaysia will be celebrating the anniversary of the 60th National Day next month, it is my hope that relations between Malaysia and China will grow from strength to strength. This kind of close partnership not only benefits the people of both countries, but also provides strong support for regional stability and harmony.
In order to move forward, the foundation built in 1974, for mutually respectful relations between two neighbouring countries, must be upheld and preserved. I look forward to better and bigger things between Malaysia and China in the future.
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