Malaysia Welcomes China To Jointly Build Transport Channel, Says Minister

By Niam Seet Wei BEIJING, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is welcoming China to jointly build a smooth, safe and highly efficienct transport channel in the country, said Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai. Describing Malaysia and China are strategic partners and entrepreneurs from both sides as 'brothers', he said Malaysia would be able to emulate and benefit from China's advanced technology. He said Malaysia had comprehensively developed and upgraded its ports and was willing to share its marine industry expertise with China. It also fully supported the port alliance within the Belt and Road countries, said Liow at the opening of the "One Belt and One Road" China Malaysia Business Dialogue here Wednesday. He said Malaysia adopted an open policy which allowed Chinese investors to hold up to 30-40 per cent share when investing in Malaysian ports. Besides, Malaysia would build more free trade zone and industrial parks near the ports in order to expand the economic model of the ports," he said, adding that Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas, which was ranked among the 20 top container terminals, also welcomed Chinese partners. Liow said Malaysia would effectively supervise the Straits of Melaka to ensure its safety and smooth operations, as well as, comprehensively upgrade the rail system in Peninsular Malaysia. He said the construction of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed rail which would connect Thailand and China's Yunnan province was an imperative move. "Once the construction begins, it would be a driving force that would lead to enormous economic activity," the transport minister said, adding that Malaysia could become China's business hub and distribution centre in the region. He said Malaysia's multiracial and multicultural society could be a culturing melting pot for the 'One Belt One Road' initiative to become a reality. Liow reiterated Malaysia's readiness to coordinate with China on the 'Belt and Road' initiative and become a gateway for China to enter the ASEAN market. China's Belt and Road initiative, including the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road was mooted by President Xi Jinping. The SREB concept was aimed at boosting cooperation with countries across Asia, Europe and Africa while the latter would promote maritime cooperation with ASEAN countries. --BERNAMA