CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today warmly received a seven-member delegation from the Jinan Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Shandong Province, at the historic State Assembly Building in Light Street.
The courtesy visit, led by Jinan CPPCC chairwoman Lei Jie, coincided with the Penang State Legislative Assembly session and took place in the meeting room of the iconic over-200-year-old building.
Both parties exchanged views on various areas of mutual interest, aiming to explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Chow highlighted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties, underscored by three visits to China by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since taking office. These visits reflect Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening relations and elevating bilateral ties to new heights.
“The Penang government is equally committed to supporting the continuous enhancement of the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two nations,” Chow said.
He also emphasised Malaysia’s strategic location in ASEAN, its mature economic development, and political stability.
“Malaysia’s economy remains steady and continues to progress. In the first three quarters of this year, Malaysia recorded a GDP growth rate of 5.3%, while total trade rose by 13.7% to RM743.2 billion,” he noted.
Chow described Penang as the economic and trade hub of northern Malaysia and a vital centre for the country’s electronics industry, accounting for over 7% of the global back-end semiconductor market. This has earned the state the nickname “Silicon Valley of the East.”
“In the first half of this year, Chinese manufacturing investments in Penang totalled RM411.8 million, with over 50 Chinese companies currently operating here,” Chow added.
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Malaysia-China Business Association, led by Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong, for fostering closer ties and promoting economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.
“With joint efforts, Malaysia-China relations will continue to flourish, contributing significantly to the prosperity and development of both regions,” he said.
Chow acknowledged the cultural and industrial similarities between Penang and Jinan, saying these shared qualities provide a strong foundation for mutually beneficial collaboration. He expressed hope that the delegation would appreciate Penang’s unique blend of Southeast Asian charm and Western heritage during their visit.
“I believe the distinctive qualities and geographical advantages of both regions can foster greater collaboration, creating new highlights in Malaysia-China local partnerships,” Chow said.
Lei Jie expressed optimism that the visit would deepen exchanges and cooperation between Jinan and Penang across various fields.
She shared that nearly 3,000 Jinan citizens travelled to Malaysia between January and August this year, with numbers showing an upward trend — an encouraging sign of growing interest.
Lei highlighted Jinan’s development momentum, a population of 10 million, and its strategic role in China’s national Yellow River ecological protection policy.
“As a city along the Yellow River, Jinan holds a significant position in China’s national strategy, with well-connected transportation infrastructure and comprehensive industrial capabilities that pave the way for robust future growth,” she said.
On her first visit to Penang, Lei expressed admiration for the state’s hospitality and its rich cultural heritage, particularly the historic architecture in George Town.
“Jinan is currently applying for UNESCO World Heritage status. We hope to engage in deeper exchanges with Penang as we share our unique cultural heritage and traditions,” Lei added.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister’s political secretary, Lau Keng Ee; Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong; Datuk Teh Eng Hin, president of the Malaysian-China Chamber of Commerce Penang branch; Li Xiaojun, deputy director general of the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Pang Long, executive vice-president of the Jinan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Zhi Liang, secretary-general of the Jinan CPPCC; Zhao Tian, deputy section chief of the Jinan Foreign Affairs Translation Centre; and Guo Yikun, representative of the Administration of the Jinan Area in the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En