Yeoh: China still an important partner for Malaysia

SERDANG: China remains an important partner for Malaysia since it is a global leader in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and the Internet of things, says Tan Sri Michael Yeoh.

Yeoh said Malaysia and other Asean countries had much to learn from China, which has become an economic powerhouse since its economic reform and opening its doors to the wider world in 1978.

“Asean nations and China can forge strategic partnerships in key areas such as economic growth and renewable energy.

“We can work closely together for a common future and shared prosperity,” he said in his welcome speech as the organising chairman of the 2018 World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) yesterday at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Seri Kembangan here.

He said WCEF fully supported China’s Belt and Road Initiative as it had helped connect countries from Asia, Africa and Europe.

“The initiative provides opportunities and benefits for Asean countries,” he said.

He believed that by working together, countries could achieve the three “Ps” – peace, progress, and prosperity.

National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference chairman C.Y. Leung, in his opening address at WCEF 2018, pointed out that Asia was in the “best spot” for development.

“Asia as a region enjoys a higher degree of stability, both domestically and in terms of international relations.

“Asian countries have been able to manage the differences between them and we can use these differences to our advantage for the common benefit of our peoples,” he said.

Leung also advocated a more open movement of trade and people between Asian countries to encourage growth.

“Asian countries have a good variety of resources and our peoples have a wide range of skill sets.

“If these resources are allowed to flow even more freely, we will be able to reap synergy bonuses on top of the peace and reform bonuses.

“Freer movements of goods, services, capital and people have boosted and will continue to boost intra-Asia economic growth and developments,” he said, citing the Asean-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement as an example.