Director Zhong Runzhang of the Chengdu Representative Office of the National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia: Malaysia Regards Import Expo as an Important Platform for Foreign Trade

Source:¹ÜÀíÔ±  Date£º2015-09-10

The Western China (Sichuan) Import Expo & International Investment Fair (hereinafter shortened as Import Expo) will be held in Chengdu between October 23rd and 27th, 2015. Director Zhong Runzhang of the Chengdu Representative Office of the National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia indicated that Import Expo will become an important platform for Malaysia to display products, technologies and services. It is predicted that the total sales volume of all exhibitors will reach USD 150 million.

In 2014, the total volume of trade between China and Malaysia was over USD 102 billion, wherein, Sichuan accounted for USD 6 billion. Since 2008, Malaysia has consecutively participated in the Western Fair for seven times and it has become the ASEAN Presidency of the Import Expo this year.

Following are exclusive interview records:

Sichuan Channel of Xinhua Net: as an old friend of Sichuan Expo, what did Malaysia gain from Sichuan exhibition platform?

Zhong Runzhang: Malaysia is a traditional trading country, taking market in Western China seriously. Since the beginning of 2008, enterprises from Malaysia have consecutively participated in the Western Fair for seven times, made great contribution to the upgrading of bilateral trade scale and significantly improved the visit frequency between both countries. In recent years, Malaysia also carried out service show in Sichuan for two times, mainly involving education, engineering design, medical tourism and other tertiary industries. In virtue of the broad stage of Sichuan Expo, Malaysian products, technologies and services are gradually in repute, trade levels becomes more and more diverse and exhibition trade volume has risen up to RMB 100 million from RMB 0.

Sichuan Channel of Xinhua Net: As National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia was established in Chengdu, it reflects that Sichuan is importance to Malaysia. What are the advantages and attractions of Sichuan Exhibition industry?

Zhong Runzhang: Sichuan with large population and high per capita income is the most important area in Western China for Malaysia to develop foreign trade export businesses. In addition to the dominant geographic position, strong radiation force and leading effect of Chengdu, the intense demand of industries in Sichuan for electronics, rubbers, etc. is one of the lures for Malaysia to set the National Trade Promotion Agency in Chengdu.

Presently, the Government of Malaysia enhances efforts on infrastructure construction. Many Sichuan project contracting companies carry out business activities in Malaysia and a great number of large-scale equipment are continuously introduced into Malaysia. In addition, many Malaysian enterprises engaging in finance, interior design, elderly care services, etc. are successively setting offices in Sichuan.

Sichuan Channel of Xinhua Net: What are the goals and expectations of Malaysian Government towards the Western China (Sichuan) Import Expo & International Investment Fair?

Zhong Runzhang: Import Expo is an important exhibition in Western China and will become an important platform for Malaysia to display products, technologies and services in China. At this Import Expo, exhibitors from Malaysia mainly display consumer goods and home supplies like tin handicrafts, bird’s nest, etc.

Malaysia is a vital node along the Maritime Silk Road and the trade communication between Sichuan and Malaysia can be treated as the extension of trade communication between China and ASEAN. Under the background, it is predicted that the total exhibition sales volume of Malaysian enterprises may be up to USD 150 million which may be 25% higher than that at the Western Fair in previous year.

Sichuan Channel of Xinhua Net: What significances will the Import Expo bring about to the expansion of bilateral trade space?

Zhong Runzhang: We hope that we can find the new trade growth points of Malaysia and Sichuan through this Import Expo. At present, the bilateral trade between Malaysia and Sichuan is still maintained in a good growth momentum, rising up to USD 6 billion from hundreds of millions of dollars in few years ago. Previously, semiconductor component was the major trade product, but next, we will progressively diversify the product structure to meet the requirements of both industries and consumers at middle and high levels. There is a large bilateral trade space between Malaysia and Sichuan; we hope to establish close cooperative relationships with Sichuan enterprises. (End)

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