As Malaysia assumes the role of the rotating chair of ASEAN, a series of major regional activities and conferences held throughout the year in Malaysia will reach many important agreements and consensuses. The President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (PUCM), Dato' Li Zhongping, urges Chinese enterprises to 'stop waiting!' and seize this golden opportunity with favorable timing, location, and human harmony.
He describes Malaysia as 'one of the best choices' for Chinese people to invest, do business, and travel. He suggests Chinese enterprises utilize Malaysia's advantage of being aligned with both the ASEAN region and internationally, adopting the Malaysia + ASEAN model to invest and conduct business in Malaysia as a 'stepping stone' to the world.
'The so-called 'Malaysia + ASEAN' model is to use Malaysia as a base and then extend to other ASEAN countries, as Malaysia has multiple identities of being a Commonwealth country, an ASEAN country, a Muslim country, and an international open economy. In addition, the cost of investing and starting a business in Malaysia is quite reasonable, making it very suitable for Chinese businesses to take their first step towards internationalization.'
While attending the 'Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Year of the Snake Chinese New Year Reception', he gave an example during an interview with Bernama News Agency. Commonwealth countries have many commonalities in legal and social systems, and once Chinese enterprises adapt to Malaysia's business and investment environment, it becomes easier to enter other Commonwealth countries.
'If the business model succeeds in Malaysia, it can be replicated to surrounding ASEAN countries. For instance, as long as Chinese enterprises' products meet Malaysia's halal certification standards, entering other halal markets like Indonesia would not be a problem, since Malaysia's halal certification is internationally recognized.'
Li Zhongping pointed out that the halal market is vast, with Malaysia's neighbor Indonesia having a population of 200 million. Using Malaysia as a springboard, Chinese enterprises can access other Muslim-populated regions, even connecting with the Middle East, home to the world's largest Muslim population, and Indonesia, the ASEAN country with the largest Muslim population.
He said that with Indonesia moving its capital to Nusantara, the new capital bordering Sabah, Chinese enterprises establishing a foothold in East Malaysia can take advantage of the proximity to enter Indonesia's large capital market.
Li Zhongping noted that through Malaysia's role as chair in unifying and coordinating ASEAN investment and trade policies, Chinese businesses can seize development opportunities.
'Now, with visa-free policies facilitating tourism and business, the government has created such a good environment with conveniences, it's a golden opportunity with favorable timing, location, and harmony. With the chance here, why wait any longer? Stop waiting!'
Moreover, Li Zhongping praised Malaysia's neutral stance in international relations, especially maintaining close cooperation with China. Through peaceful consultations, Malaysia adeptly addresses and manages disputes and differences in issues like the South China Sea, benefiting the economic and trade development between the two countries. This serves as a model for other ASEAN countries to handle differences with China.
Malaysia Attracts Major Influx of Chinese Brands - Li Zhongping: Politically Stable, Diverse, and Inclusive
Malaysia Attracts Major Influx of Chinese Brands - Li Zhongping: Politically Stable, Diverse, and Inclusive
Malaysia presents strong market potential, attracting more and more Chinese investors as an ideal choice due to its political stability, relatively low startup costs, and good security environment.
Dato' Li Zhongping, President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (PUCM), stated that Malaysia has become a new favorite for Chinese enterprises, with an increasing number of Chinese brands, various Chinese restaurants, and convenience stores opening rapidly. This highlights Malaysia's inclusive social atmosphere, offering unique opportunities for Chinese enterprises and tourists.
In an exclusive interview with Bernama News Agency, he stated that this phenomenon stems from Chinese enterprises accumulating strength and aligning with international development trends. Malaysia's multicultural and inclusive society offers a friendly environment for outsiders, which is an important factor attracting Chinese businesses.
'Malaysia's political and social stability is comparatively good in Southeast Asia, especially as the security in surrounding countries may cause concern. Moreover, consumption and startup costs are more reasonable, so in all aspects, I believe Malaysia offers a very good choice, attracting many Chinese investors and tourists to Malaysia.'
China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years and has been a major source of investment for many years. According to Chinese statistics, the bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia reached a record high of 212.04 billion US dollars (approximately 928.2628 billion Malaysian ringgits) last year, marking a year-on-year increase of 11.4%.
He mentioned that the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and InvestKL provide one-stop services for Chinese businesses, closely connecting with various relevant government agencies to assist Chinese enterprises in better entering Malaysia.
This 'Malaysian son-in-law' from Jiangsu, China, has been rooted in Kuala Lumpur for 27 years. He described Malaysia as very suitable for Chinese enterprises to conduct commercial activities, invest, and explore. It is also suitable for Chinese tourists and students.
He explained that the Chinese population in Malaysia accounts for about one-fifth, preserving intact Chinese cultural customs, Chinese cuisine, and language similarity, which removes many cultural barriers, helping them adapt quickly and integrate into local society.
He believes that in the future, interactions between Malaysia and China in education, trade, and cultural cooperation will become more frequent, expecting more Chinese enterprises to come to Malaysia for development.
Malaysian Products Become Part of Chinese Households - Durian, Bird's Nest, and White Coffee are Bestsellers
With Chinese products becoming increasingly prevalent in the Malaysian market, high-quality Malaysian products are also actively integrating into the daily lives of Chinese consumers, showcasing the fruitful results of Malaysia-China economic and trade cooperation.
Dato' Li Zhongping, President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (PUCM), pointed out that Malaysian fresh durians, bird's nest, and white coffee, which symbolize high quality and luxury, have become bestselling products in the Chinese market, reflecting a mutually beneficial relationship.
'Not only do many Chinese brands enter Malaysia, but many Malaysian products are also popular in China. Malaysian durians are the most expensive and of good quality, with Musang King and bird's nests becoming best-selling luxury items.'
'Various brands of Malaysian white coffee sold in Chinese supermarkets are very popular.'
In an interview with Bernama News Agency, Li Zhongping pointed out that even the edible oil 'Golden Dragon Fish', widely popular among Chinese households, is closely related to Malaysia.
According to information, the producer of 'Golden Dragon Fish', Yihai Kerry Arowana Oils & Grains Co., Ltd., is a company under Malaysia's richest businessman, Tan Sri Robert Kuok, known as the 'Sugar King'.
Li Zhongping noted that the future cooperative potential between Malaysia and China is enormous, with many opportunities for collaboration, especially in areas like high-tech with high added value, new energy, new technology, green environmental protection, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and the digital economy, which are China's strengths.
'As the world's second-largest economy, China has huge domestic demand and a vast market. According to Chinese statistics, last year's bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia reached a historical high of 212.04 billion US dollars (approximately 928.2628 billion Malaysian ringgits). Is this a lot? Considering the scale of the Chinese market, it is clearly not high, and there is still considerable room for growth. Last year set a new record, and I believe there will be more brilliant achievements ahead.'