M’sia and China need to broaden cooperation

SEPANG: Malaysia and China will have to further strengthen their people-to-people relationship in order to help both countries achieve their goals, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He added that while China aspires to be the largest economy in the world, Malaysia aims to be a fully developed nation by 2020.
"We need peace, stability and prosperity in our region if we want to achieve our respective goals. Deepening and strengthening our people-to-people relations can help us achieve this," he said at the ground breaking ceremony of the Xiamen University Malaysia campus in Salak Tinggi here today.
Najib said the two countries celebrated the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in May and there has been an increased commitment on both sides to further broaden their cooperation.
Citing examples of such cooperation, he said these included the setting up of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Guangxi and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Pahang as well as the recent arrival of the two giant pandas.
He also said the setting up of the Xiamen University Malaysia campus was further testimony of the growing relationship between both countries.
"It will not be long until a diverse student body, composed of young people from Malaysia and China as well as Asian nations, will be housed and educated here (in the university's campus here).
"Graduating classes will leave this campus with mutual understanding and respect; gained from living and studying together at the university," he said.
Also present at the ceremony were Xiamen University president Prof Zhu Chongshi, China's ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang, China's Assistant Education Minister Chen Shun, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Najib's special envoy to China, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting.
The campus is the first one overseas that is being set up by the renowned Chinese university, which was founded by Chinese businessman and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee in 1921.
It is being built on a 60.7 hectare site and will have five academic buildings, six students' residences, activity centres, sports facilities and a cafeteria. It is expected to be completed by September next year with an enrollment of 500 students.
The number is expected to grow to 5,000 in 2020, and will have an eventual maximum capacity of 10,000 students.