Malaysian envoy to strengthen ties with China

Malaysian envoy to China, Ong Ka Ting (pictured), has outlined the great importance that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak places to its relationship with China as well as its sincerity about expanding bilateral ties.

The newly appointed envoy previously served as the third-ranking Malaysian Cabinet minister and one of the foremost authorities in Southeast Asian nation in terms of Chinese affairs. He also doubles as chairman of the Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia-China Business Council.

Ong met with local Malaysian business leaders in Shanghai and Dr Meng Xiaosu, Chairman of the China National Real Estate Development Group (CNREDC), a leading property developer, to discuss the implementation of inexpensive housing projects in China.

Another principal task in Ong's visit to China is to oversee the development of a joint Sino-Malaysian industrial park located in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

"Jointly developing this industrial park will help further interlink our two nations' economies and expand the scope of our commercial relations," Ong said.

The park will be constructed on a 55 sq km land in Qinzhou city near Nanning, Guangxi's capital. The Qinzhou government will hold 51 percent share while 49 percent will go to Malaysian companies led by the Sarawak-based Evergreen Group. The Malaysian side will provide cash while the land will form Qinzhou government's equity.

"We expect the joint venture to be finalised by the end of February, and construction to begin later this year."