MoHU-Sheda delegation arrives at Qingdao
QINGDAO, China: The working visit organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urbanisation ( MoHU) and Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association ( Sheda) Kuching branch to China enters its last leg as the delegation arrives at Qingdao.
The delegation led by Assistant Minister for Urbanisation Datuk Talib Zulpillip started off things with a courtesy visit to Qingdao’s Municipal Council secretary general, Wang Jiangzhong.
The courtesy visit took place yesterday at the Westin Hotel, Qingdao where Wang introduced his municipal council members that were present to the Sarawak delegation.
Also present at the courtesy visit was Mu Ziwen, president of Weifang Henglida Steel Structure Corporation Ltd ( Weifang Henglida), a local modular housing system manufacturing firm.
Weifang Henglida is set to sign four separate memorandums of understanding ( MoUs) with four Sheda member owned companies within Sarawak for the supply of modular housing systems today.
Wang expressed his gratitude to Talib and his delegation for visiting as he was hopeful that the recent increased cooperation between China and Malaysia in economy, trade, investment, fisheries and agriculture would extend to Qingdao and Sarawak.
He then went on to give a brief introduction and history of Qingdao, highlighting on its economy, industrial landscape, expertise in manufacturing and its tourism attractions.
“Our manufacturing industry especially, is extremely extensive. Around 80 per cent of equipment sold by CRRC Corporation Ltd ( CRRC), the world’s railway transit equipment supplier, is manufactured here in Qingdao.
“Just that sector alone is worth approximately 100 billion RMB and it is still an industry that is enjoying a strong momentum of growth,” he emphasised.
“Looking forward for Qingdao and Sarawak, we look forward to enhance our trade especially within infrastructure, manufacturing and agriculture,” he said, further highlighting that he hoped to see closer ties between Weifang Henglida and Sarawak in the future.
“I know many of our construction companies are seeking opportunities to engage in trade with Sarawak and the greater Malaysia just like Weifang Henglida. I hope that this will be the case in the future as I believe that it will be a mutually beneficial relationship for our two states,” he mused.
Wang ended his keynote address to the delegation with an invitation for them to witness some of the urban planning strategies the municipal had implemented for the development of Qingdao.
“Qingdao has a history of quick urbanisation and I believe we will have much to talk about and discuss on the topic. I hope this visit will not only be an opportunity to enhance cooperation for trade but also for us to potentially help with the enhancement of development and redevelopment in Sarawak,” Wang concluded.
In response, Talib thanked Wang for his great hospitality and said he we was eager to see what knowledge the visit to Qingdao would yield.
“Just looking at the physical development only in Qingdao is extraordinary. The traffic, roads, housing and infrastructure are all so well developed and advanced.
“I hope from this visit we can learn from the experience and if possible, seek to adopt some of the suitable strategies that Qingdao has put in place.”
He went on to highlight that the mutual relationship between Qingdao and Sarawak had the potential to extend beyond just trade.
“Having said this, I also think that this can be a mutually beneficial relationship as I believe there are many things within Sarawak that could also be of interest to you and possibly to learn from also” he declared, ending the visit with an invitation to the Qingdao Municipal Council to visit Sarawak for a similar purpose.
After the courtesy visit, the delegation went on a site visit to Xiaogang Migncheng Project by the Qingjiang group.
Our manufacturing industry especially, is extremely extensive. Around 80 per cent of equipment sold by CRRC Corporation Ltd (CRRC), the world’s railway transit equipment supplier, is manufactured here in Qingdao. Wang Jiangzhong, Qingdao’s Municipal Council secretary general