VERBATIM TEXT

 

REMARKS BY YAB PRIME MINISTER

DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

MALAYSIA-CHINA HIGH-LEVEL BUSINESS DIALOGUE

BEIJING

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

2 SEPTEMBER 2025

 

 

Tan Sri Datuk Loh Tian Chuan,

Malaysia – China Business Council;

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

I’m extremely proud and glad to know that the participation of so many prominent companies, conglomerates from China supporting this event.

 

As you know, the relations between our two great countries have been extremely cordial from the beginning. But then it has accelerated to become comprehensive strategic partner. And the exchanges we have had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Minister Trade and today after this, we will have a bilateral with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to follow through some of our earlier discussions and continue to expand trade and investments.

 

Not only that, we have discussed on the issue of expanding new areas; semiconductor, rare earth, blue economy, in terms of education, and research. So, I think the trust and relations has been to me exemplary. That’s why, although Malaysia is not yet a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, I’ve been invited personally as guest of the Chair President Xi Jinping. That shows that level of confidence between our two countries.

 

But as you know, to solidify and strengthen these relations, promotion of trade investments is very critical, because that would mean development and progress for our countries. They will also allow for new players, promote welfare of the industry, opportunity for labour, for workforce, training for professionals. So, it is actually much related to overall development of our scientists.

 

In my experience talking to Chinese business groups and with Malaysia, we always expand, we’ll facilitate the business. Malaysia is particularly very stable. But what is also important, we have very clear economic policies. You talk about semiconductor strategy, we have a clear guideline on that. We have AI Roadmap, yes, we have Industrial Master Plan and the priorities is quite established. We talk about energy transition which is huge, and now we have finalized for example the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) from Vietnam undersea cable to North Malaya right down to Singapore, then from Sarawak undersea cable to Malaya to Singapore and from Sarawak to Sabah, Indonesia, the Philippines. So, we have the ASEAN energy of power grid. And this of course alternative energy, which is to me a major trust of our policy.

 

The other issue of course relates also to Belt and Road initiative of President Xi Jinping is the connectivity. First, the ECRL that you have and explaining the uniqueness of ECRL is that it allocated for the urban areas, but it goes through to sub-urban to rural and rural heartland to some of the poorer provinces. And that would provide the opportunity for an ecosystem to develop the area and where the stations are planned or at least now being built.

 

But beyond that, because of the success of this huge east coast railway, I think we have now agreed and I will be discussing with both President and Premier is to extend that further to the Thai border. So, what I’m saying is giving these sorts of examples to showcase that it’s not only traditionally strong, but we are using our contact between these two countries level of trust and cooperation to enhance investment trade.

 

China has opened up to a lot of opportunities in Malaysia. Excellency Zhu Rongji mentioned about agriculture products. But you must also know the semiconductor E&E parts which is also a major export not only to United States, but also to China and investments from China from data center, AI, telecommunications, for example, Huawei, ZTE, some industry already big, making Malaysia as the hub.

 

First the energy hub of the region. We are now becoming semiconductor hub for the region and many of the big international companies, corporations, Chinese companies making their international branches, headquarters, operations in Kuala Lumpur or in Malaysia.

 

Now, I want to conclude on a very personal note, because invariably in my discussions sometimes they ask about their initial China contact with Malaysia. You are here in this hotel, it has its history in Shangri-La in many cases, it becomes one world doesn’t matter or China world, I’m sorry, China world after all, you know, if you read Shakespeare, it says “a rose is still a rose, whatever name you call it”.

But what is important is my discussions not only now from the time when I was working very well with my good friend then Deputy Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, who I know very well, very close friends, you see the loyalty not only of governments but also the private sector in this case one of our great Malaysian, Robert Kuok, who actually stood firm and believed in the future of China and working together. At the time, most foreign investors ran away after you know the incident, the major incident, Tiananmen Square. Almost all overseas firms gave up and left, he stood firm, he told me that he gave the reason he said, in business I know when you are in politics, there are certain ideas and principles you hold.

 

What is friendship? What is trust? and we are not dictated by other elements, except what we believe as Confucius say, after 70 is there the heart that will dictate. Tengku Zafrul Aziz doesn’t know this, but ask him to read about it, it’s the heart matter so the heart will dictate what is right.

 

So, although he’s one man, a successful entrepreneur, businessman, but it reflects that spirit and I thought for the first time publicly, I’m mentioning that in honor of this great man who has done and also not only great Malaysian, but a great friend of China I repeats, at a time when all almost every single foreign interest left or decided to leave, Robert Kuok stayed and showed not only comfort, but sincere friendship from what you call the dictate of the heart.

 

Thank you.