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Entrepreneurial opportunities abound in industrial park co-built by Malaysia, China

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Entrepreneurial opportunities abound in industrial park co-built by Malaysia, China

2024-06-19 17:01 Last Updated At:17:47

The first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China has helped entrepreneurs capitalize on the Southeast Asian country's highly-educated workforce and provided quality jobs for Malaysians, according to business community leaders.

Partnership between twin industrial parks in Malaysia and China has greatly boosted economic integration between the two countries over the past decade. Known as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program, the parks constitute a flagship project of cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Founded in February 2013, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), together with its sister park, the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park situated in China's southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has set an innovative example of bilateral economic cooperation under the program's model.

Among the Chinese companies in the MCKIP, Camel Power is the park's newest tenant. It produces about 15,000 car-starter batteries per day, with a mostly local workforce, providing vast high-quality job opportunities to the country's fast-developing east coast region.

"We select the employee that's highly educated, for example, from the diploma holder and some bachelor, some higher like a master or even doctorate degree. So, that's easier for our transfer of the knowhow to local manpower," said Jerry Xue Shihua, Camel Power Malaysia.

The East Coast Economic Region Development Council is also tasked with spurring socioeconomic development in the region.

"We look at all the economic sectors that could support the region and this includes manufacturing, oil and gas and petrochemicals, agriculture as it has been a generally agrarian society, tourism because of the natural endowments that are there, and human capital development," said Ragu Sampasivam, COO of the development council.

Also in the industrial park, the vast Chinese-owned Alliance Steel plant is employing nearly 3,000 Malaysian workers. Alliance exports its products from the park across Southeast Asia, and to Africa, Europe and the Americas.

"We chose this location because the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park is a special collaboration between the two countries. Also, this place has relatively rich mineral resources, and the advantage of having good human resources," said Steve Hu Jiulin, chief technology officer of Alliance Steel Malaysia. The steel firm also vigorously boosts the business of the Kuantan port, with further growth momentum expected with the undertaking of another China-Malaysia joint venture, the 665-km long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

Undertaken by the China Communications Construction Company, the mega rail project is expected to connect Port Klang near capital Kuala Lumpur and other cities and major ports along the east coast by 2027 to bring more balanced economic development to the country.

"All this is going to help to increase the employment opportunities, entrepreneurial opportunities for local parties to be suppliers. We also think that it will help local industries to move up a level up because these are huge investments which need our local suppliers to also expand their operation," said Sampasivam.

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound in industrial park co-built by Malaysia, China

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound in industrial park co-built by Malaysia, China

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China-Germany relations help stabilize Sino-EU relations: Chinese FM

2025-02-15 21:26 Last Updated At:21:37

The sound development momentum of China-Germany relations has always been a stabilizing factor in China-EU relations, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Munich, Germany on Friday.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stated that multipolarity is an inevitable trend in history.

In the face of rising protectionism, the resurgence of Cold War mentality, and rising unilateral and bullying practices, China is ready to work with Germany and other countries to enhance communication and coordination, build broad consensus, and present a unified voice in safeguarding international peace and stability, said Wang.

Wang expressed his belief that Germany will play an important role in advancing the process toward a multipolar world.

Noting that German will hold federal election, Wang said that China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. China values the mutually beneficial cooperation with Germany and is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the new German government, with an aim to inject fresh momentum into the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Wang further noted that China is firmly committed to the path of green transition and sustainable development, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Germany to jointly tackle global challenges such as climate change.

Baerbock said that Germany attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and is ready to foster more convergence of interests with China and make the two countries reliable partners to each other.

Germany adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen candid communication, deepen dialogue, and enhance cooperation with China, said Baerbock.

The two sides also exchanged their views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues.

China-Germany relations help stabilize Sino-EU relations: Chinese FM

China-Germany relations help stabilize Sino-EU relations: Chinese FM

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