‘China ready to import more goods’

BEIJING: China is prepared to increase its import of Malaysian goods, said Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

This, he said, included palm oil and other agricultural products to meet the demands of its 1.4 billion population.

“China is committed to a more balanced bilateral trade with Malaysia.

“To this end, we are ready to import more items from Malaysia, especially palm oil and other agricultural products, to meet the needs of our people,” he said.

Li was speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a delegation meeting at the Great Hall of the People here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir is on a five-day official visit to China.

Members of his delegation include

Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok, International Trade and Industry Minister Ignatius Darell Leiking, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and senior government officials.

Li said in the meeting with Dr Mahathir, they had agreed to expand the cooperation between the two countries in new economic areas, especially those related to technology.

“Dr Mahathir’s visit and the mutual agreements achieved show the world that both nations enjoy a good relationship.”

Commenting on the trade war between China and the United

States, Li said he had repeatedly stressed that there would not be a winner. The trade war, he said, would impact the economy of both nations and global trade.

“All the countries in the world are dependent on each other. As such, if there is any trade clash, it will have an impact on global trade,” he said.

Li offered an analogy, saying that if a river was polluted, it would not only kill the fish but also damage the ecosystem.

He said China had always believed in global free trade.

Commenting on the same issue, Dr Mahathir said while Malaysia supported free trade, it had to be fair.

“Each country has its own level of development. Hence, the poor need to be given an opportunity to benefit from global free trade.”