Trade With China Not Impacted Badly By Slowdown In China And Europe

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's trade with China has not been badly affected by the economic slowdown in China and Europe, says Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed. "Trade (overall) will still grow between five and six per cent per annum this year. That is our forecast for the whole year. "If it (trade) is up and down monthly, that's quiet normal but the forecast remains," he told a press conference after launching the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade)'s mobile applications called "MyExport and Trade2Media. Mustapa was commenting on whether Malaysia's trade with the economic power house would be affected by China's economic slowdown. On the first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.7 per cent announced yesterday by Bank Negara (Central Bank of Malaysia), he said: "The growth is quite encouraging despite the economic uncertainties. "Malaysia recorded a rather encouraging performance in private investment. This is a good showing and reflects matured investment". However, the first quarter GDP growth of 4.7 per cent was lower when compared with the 5.1 per cent growth recorded in the same quarter of last year and the 5.2 per cent growth registered in the fourth quarter of 2011. -- BERNAMA