KUALA LUMPUR: China is ready to import more palm oil, tropical fruits and other agricultural products from Malaysia, says China State Councillor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.
“China will also make arrangements for the first group of Malaysian students to return to China and resume their studies as soon as possible,” said Wang Yi, who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia which started on Monday.
“Both sides are also planning to significantly increase the number of direct flights between China and Malaysia to meet the growing demand for travel between both countries.
“We’re confident as the Covid-19 situation continues to be managed, the people of our two countries can visit each other as often as possible, as members and relatives of the families,” Wang Yi said of the efforts in enhancing all spheres of bilateral ties and people-to-people contact.
He said this during a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, which was held after their bilateral meeting yesterday.
Wang said both countries would also leverage on the opportunities offered by the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park, to put in place a pilot zone for innovative economic and trade cooperation as well as a demonstration of production capacity cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Wang Yi said he and Saifuddin also discussed Malaysia-China Blueprints for connectivity and would redouble efforts to advance the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project and the development of areas along the line.
He said both countries also looked forward to the completion of the central line of the Pan-Asian railway link to achieve interconnected development and speed up the process of regional integration through the connectivity of China, Laos and Thailand railways.
On a lighter note, Wang Yi said he was impressed with the Musang King cheesecake served during his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier yesterday.
“Well, this morning I had a working lunch. The Prime Minister served Musang King cheesecake as dessert, which is so delicious. And I’m so impressed,” he said.
Saifuddin said Malaysia welcomed more investment from China to develop digital economy.
He emphasised the importance of both countries working more closely in areas related to digital economy as well as cooperation between telecommunication companies.
“I have impressed upon his excellency that we regard digital economy as premium, as the way forward to rebuild our economy and to sustain our future growth,” he said after his bilateral meeting with Wang Yi.
“Both nations are also looking forward to more high-level visits in the coming years and to promote greater trust between both countries.”
Saifuddin said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who also met Wang Yi yesterday, and Ismail Sabri expressed their interest in visiting China when time permits.
Saifuddin also noted that the “Community of Shared Future” concept, a brainchild of Chinese premier Xi Jinping, was very much aligned with the concept of “The World is a Family” that was highlighted by the Malaysian Prime Minister.
Earlier, Saifuddin and Wang Yi witnessed the handing over of documents between the China Meteorological Administration and Malaysian Meteorological Department on CMAcast for a system that uses Chinese satellite digital video broadcast technology to transmit meteorological data.
Both men also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Hunan Broadcasting System and Media Prima Omnia Sdn Bhd.
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