KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has become a key destination for Chinese companies looking to expand overseas, said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president noted that China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
"Malaysia is China’s second-largest trading partner in Asean and its largest source of imports. In 2022, Malaysia-China bilateral trade surpassed the USD200bil mark for the first time,” said Dr Wee.
"In 2023, it amounted to an impressive USD190.24bil. By 2024, the bilateral trade figure reached a historic high of USD212bil," he added in a post on his official Facebook page on Saturday (Jan 25).
Dr Wee shared his thoughts after attending the Spring Festival reception hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia.
"Next Wednesday, the Chinese community will celebrate the Year of the Snake. I was at the event to celebrate the festive season with fellow invited guests, including guest of honour Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul," he said.
He highlighted that last year marked a historical milestone as Malaysia and China celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
"Beyond the economic and trade sectors, the people-to-people exchanges between Malaysia and China remain frequent."
"This is enhanced by tourism, family visits, and cultural exchanges, fostering greater mutual understanding between the people of both nations," he said.