ACC Secretary-General Met with Deputy President of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia

On 10 December 2015, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping visited the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) upon its invitation, and met with Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Lim Sing Lam Kam Sang, Deputy President of ACCCIM. Other senior members of ACCCIM attended the meeting.

Secretary-General Yang introduced ASEAN-China relations and Malaysia-China trade relations. She said that China is the largest trading partner of ASEAN while ASEAN the third largest to China. Recently, the negotiation on upgrading China-ASEAN Free Trade Area had been concluded which would provide new impetus to the economic development of both sides and help achieve the goal of 1 trillion USD two-way trade by 2020. The two-way trade between China and Malaysia has become ever more frequent with tangible results. The bilateral trade volume has reached 102 billion USD, comprising of more than one fifth of ASEAN-China trade volume.

Secretary-General Yang also briefed on the functions of ACC and its efforts in promoting trade and investment between ASEAN and China since its establishment. This year ACC successfully organized investment missions to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam. They learned about the local investment environment and opportunities, attended business matching programmes with local enterprises, Chambers of Commerce and relevant agencies. ACC had plans next year to organize more Chinese enterprises to visit other ASEAN countries. Support and assistance from the business community of ASEAN countries would further promote trade relations between the two sides.

On behalf of ACCCIM, Deputy President Lam Kam Sang welcomed and thanked the visit by Secretary-General Yang. He said that ACCCIM, with a history of nearly 70 years, was the biggest and most comprehensive Chinese business organization in Malaysia with more than 100,000 members. Since its establishment, especially in recent years, ACCCIM had actively participated in bilateral trade cooperation and various expos, trade fairs, forums, and conducted frequent communication and cooperation with enterprises and Chambers of Commerce in China. ASEAN Community would be realized by the end of this year. The “Belt and Road” initiative had been echoed by many countries including ASEAN. ACCCIM would take this historical opportunity to grasp more business opportunities and information by keeping close contact with ACC. ACC was expected to provide more facilities to ACCCIM to jointly promote cooperation between the enterprises of Malaysia, other ASEAN countries and China.

Secretary-General Yang had extensive discussion and interaction with the participants. The event was covered by Oriental Daily and other local Chinese Media.