Reviving Malacca-China ties
‘Discussions underway to establish special status with Guangdong’
GUANGZHOU: Malacca, which has historical links with past dynasties of China dating back to six centuries ago, is set to rejuvenate its ties with China.
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is the Prime Minister’s special envoy to China, said discussions were underway for Malacca to establish a “friendly province and state” status with the southern province of Guangdong.
Paying a courtesy call on Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua yesterday, Ong said he and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed were co-chairing a committee to look into enhancing cooperation between Malaysia and Guangdong, with Malacca and Guangdong as the focus.
“While the Malacca government utilises its resources to implement the cooperation, the Federal Government is also supporting the initiative by entrusting the committee to co-ordinate the efforts.
“We are killing two birds with one stone here – not only the Malacca-Guangdong cooperation will be strengthened, the Malaysia-Guangdong ties will also receive a boost,” he said.
Ong is leading a delegation to Guangdong for the Malaysia-China (Guangdong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference, which is jointly organised by the Malaysia-Guangdong Chamber of Investment and Promotion (MGCIP) and the Guangdong committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Hu, who visited Malaysia last year, said Guangdong placed much importance on its relations with Malaysia.
“We see Malaysia as an important partner of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative.
“We expect our ties to be deepened further in the future,” he said.
Also present during the meeting were consul-general of Malaysia in Guangzhou Muzambli Markam, MGCIP president Datuk Seri Lim Hock San, Malacca state exco members Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Datuk Lai Meng Chong, Datuk Latipah Omar and Datuk M. S. Mahadevan, and Malaysian Timber Council chairman Datuk Wee Jeck Seng.