PM ARRIVES IN HANGZHOU
Dr Mahathir kicks off five-day China visit
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived here last night to begin his five-day official visit to China aimed at strengthening the 44-year relationship between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
The plane he was on landed at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 9.05pm. Hangzhou is the first leg of the visit that will also take him to Beijing.
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya welcomed Dr Mahathir, who was accompanied by his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Dr Mahathir’s last official visit to China as prime minister was in October 2001. During his first tenure as prime minister, from 1981 to 2003, Dr Mahathir visited China seven times, and nine more times after he retired.
Zainuddin said Chinese leaders were excited to welcome Dr Mahathir.
This was despite the strong statements from Kuala Lumpur lately, particularly on the suspension of two China-backed projects — East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline.
“They are waiting and excited to receive Tun Dr Mahathir. So far, no official response (yet) from China on the matter,” he said here yesterday.
The two projects, especially the RM81 billion ECRL, were in the spotlight because the government felt that the mega projects of the previous government burdened the country and its people with large debts. There were hints the projects might be scrapped.
“We should be looking at potentials, not only issues,” said Zainuddin.
He said there was a lot of potential to explore in the relationship between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing as China was the world’s second-largest economy after the United States, with advanced science, technology and innovations.
“We should seize the opportunities during the visit to tap highquality investment as the country (Malaysia) moves towards developed-nation status.”
He said Malaysia hoped to export whole durians to China, which would benefit farmers.
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for nine consecutive years, with total trade of US$96.5 billion (RM386 billion) last year, an increase of nine per cent from 2016.
Total trade between the countries between January and last month was US$61 billion (RM244 billion), up 17 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Zainuddin said Dr Mahathir was scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Chinese investors, the business community and the Malaysian diaspora.
He was also scheduled to visit the Alibaba Group headquarters, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group headquarters, National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Park and Da Jiang Innovations, which produce drones, among others.
The Alibaba and Geely engagements will be here, while the other will be in Beijing.
Dr Mahathir is also scheduled to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding on a bilateral currency swap arrangement, the protocol for export of frozen durian, development and promotion of Malaysian palm oil biofuel, collaboration in rubberised bitumen road technology, as well as accounting and audit regulatory cooperation.
With Dr Mahathir were Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Entrepreneurial Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.