China-Malaysia's 35 years relationship

                                      

Prime Minister Najib’s visit to China can be regarded as fruitful and augurs well for both the nations. For the Prime Minister, it was quite a sentimental trip since it was his late father Tun Razak who took the bold decision of recognizing China 35 years ago. The Prime Minister brought along his mother, his wife and family on this occassion.

One cannot not to be impressed with the Chinese government every time I visit Beijing. My last visit to Beijing was in 2007 when I presented the paper on food safety and another paper on the integration of traditional medicine and western medicine. Beijing is a bustling city with a dusty atmosphere but it is definitely much cleaner on the streets of Beijing if compared to other big cities. Its landscape is beautiful and despite the space constraint, there are provisions for the pedestrian and the cyclists. Many visitors to China salute the Chinese government for its town planning, especially landscaping and being people’s friendly by promoting cycling and walking.

Over the last 35 years, because of the cordial relationship between China and Malaysia, trade has been registering double-digit growth. Last year, the value of trade between the two nations touches US$50 billion (figures given by China). China is Malaysia’s 4^th largest trading partner and it is an important export market for our commodities. There is also a significant growth in the tourism market. More and more students from China are in Malaysia pursuing further education.

China is today regarded as the economic powerhouse of Asia. It is estimated by next year China will overtake Japan to become the world’s second largest economy. This is a remarkable achievement achieved over a short span of 25 years. Its economic development model will be studied by endless people in the hope that these achievements can be duplicated in other countries.  Of course there are structural problem in China’s high speed economic growth.

In the next 10 years, what do Malaysia hope to benefit from our cordial relationship with China?

1)    More joint-venture companies between China and Malaysia private sector. Presently, there are joint ventures but mostly initiated by GLC.

2)   Hope to see a more diversified form of joint-venture development. We should move away from just undertaking property development. We hope to see more joint ventures related to railway, dam, hydroelectric power station and aluminum smelter plant of which China has world-renowned expertise. Hopefully through these joint ventures, there will be technology transfer from China to Malaysia.

3)   In the field of agriculture, we should learn about China’s effort on modernization of agriculture and biotechnology. China today supplies almost half of the world’s fresh vegetables.

4)   Tourism. This has great potential. Last year, we received more than 900, 000 Chinese tourists. In the same year, there are 40 million Chinese tourists. So, what Malaysia received is a very small insignificant numbers. To attract more tourists to Malaysia, we have to create more packages that involve several other countries, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos. These packages will make it more attractive to visit this part of the world.  Chinese tourists like to eat, shop and a fair significant number gambles.

5)   Education. The private institutions of higher learning have to play a more aggressive role in attracting Chinese students. There are 11, 000 Chinese students pursuing education at various levels. I understand that most of them are doing short courses.  There is a need for the private sector to upgrade their standards of education. Otherwise, it will be a hard battle attracting quality foreign students. There have always been calls by Malaysia Chinese educationists that the government should recognize more universities from China. Since most Malaysian Chinese have no interest to work in the civil service, I feel that recognition or non-recognition of universities in China is not of importance.

I took the opportunity to travel to a few shopping centres and it is good to discover from the taxi driver that the security has improved tremendously in Beijing in the last 5 years. Hence, taxis in Beijing do not have iron grills that separates the driver from the passengers. This used to be the usual features in taxis operating in Beijing.

The weather is hot and dry. I do my usual morning walk from 6.30a.m. to 7.30a.m. I must admit, it was quite a pleasant walk despite the bustling traffic since there is a pedestrian walkway and beautiful landscaping.  

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首相拿督斯里纳吉今次访华，对马、中两国带来丰硕成果。对纳吉而言，此行颇为感伤，因为其已故父亲，即我国第二任首相敦拉萨于35年前率团直飞北京进行“破冰之旅”，奠下了马中建交的基础。而首相这次携同母亲、夫人及孩子访华，意义深远。

 

每回到访北京，都让我留下深刻印象。我上一次到北京是在2007年，出席两项由中国卫生部举办的政府高层会议，并在会议上各别提呈了食品安全以及传统中西医结合的报告。

 

北京是一个繁华都市，四处尘土飞扬，但相比于其他大都市，北京的街道却干净多了。即使有空间限制，这个都市的造景仍然美观。此外，政府也规定行人和自行车骑士在路上必须遵守既定条规。许多到过中国的游客都佩服中国政府的城市规划之道，尤其赞叹城中的造景以及步行和骑自行车政策。                                                          

 

过去35年，基于两国的友好关系，马中的贸易额取得双位数成长。根据中国方面的数据，两国在去年的贸易额更达致500亿美元。中国是马来西亚的第四大贸易伙伴国，同时也是我国原产品的重要出口市场。旅游方面也显著成长。越来越多中国学生来大马深造。

 

中国当前已被视为亚洲的强大经济势力，一般估计中国在明年将取代日本，成为世界第二大经济体。在短短25年内，中国就取得了如此了不起的成就。此外，将有更多人研究中国的经济发展模式，以向中国看齐。当然，中国的高速经济成长也存在一些结构性问题。

 

在未来10年，大马希望如何从马中友好关系中获益呢？

 

1）中国与大马私人界应有更多合资公司。目前，我国虽有合资企业，但大部分由官联企业主导。

2) 希望看到一个更多样化的合资企业发展。我们应该摆脱侧重于产业的发展导向。我们希望看到更多铁路、水坝、水力发电站和铝制炼厂项目的合作，中国在这些领域有很多优秀的专才。通过这些合作，有望将中国的技术转移到大马。

 

3）农业方面，我们应该向中国的农业现代化及生物科技取经。今天，中国几乎供应了世界一半市场的新鲜蔬菜。

 

4）旅游领域是一个潜能庞大的市场。去年，旅马的中国游客超过90万人次。而去年出外旅游的中国游客达4千万人。如此看来，旅马的中国游客只占少数。要吸引更多游客来马，我们必须推概括几个国家的配套，除了大马，还包括新加坡、泰国、柬埔寨、越南、寮国等。这样的配套可以吸引更多游客来到这个区域旅游。中国游客喜欢吃、逛街购物及赌博。

 

5）教育。私立高等学府要下更多苦工去吸引中国学生。共有1万1千名中国学生进修各种程度的课程。据我了解，他们大部分是拿短期课程。私人领域有必要提升它们的教育水平。否则，要吸引有素质的外国学生并不容易。国内的华教人士常吁请政府承认更多来自中国的大学文凭。基于大部分大马华人没有兴趣成为公务员，我认为承认中国大学文凭与否并不重要。

 

我趁此机会到一些购物商场逛逛，从搭德士中发现到，北京的治安在这5年已经改善，这是好事。现在，北京的德士内没有隔离司机和乘客的铁格栅。过去北京的德士常见到这类铁格栅。

 

天气炎热干燥。我如往常一样，在早上6时30分至7时30分进行早晨步行。我必须承认，尽管当地交通繁忙，我还是很怡然自得，因为沿途上看到美观怡人的造景设计。