Zahid hails ‘special ties’ with China

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi shaking hands with John Lee Ka-chiu, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at Government House Central today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the strong government-to-government relationship, among others, is proof of Putrajaya and Beijing’s special ties for the last 50 years.

Zahid, who is on his maiden official visit to China since becoming deputy prime minister, also cited the business-to-business connections that have been in existence “for a long time”, Bernama reported.

The decision by the two governments to implement a 30-day visa-free entry for Chinese tourists to Malaysia and a 15-day visa-free entry for Malaysian tourists to China was also a testament of the strong ties between the two countries, he said.

Zahid also spoke of his ties with the Chinese leaders.

“My relationship with their leaders is very close, and I have been involved with China since the 1990s as a corporate member, and even more so now that I am in the government,” he was quoted as saying.

Zahid is making an 11-day visit to China, with Hong Kong as the first stop, at the invitation of China’s vice-premier Ding Xuexiang.

He said Hong Kong has agreed to establish a trade and economy office in Kuala Lumpur to facilitate business transactions, administrative matters, and financial affairs in Malaysia .

Malaysia has a consulate-general office in Hong Kong to facilitate such matters.

Zahid also invited fund managers from Hong Kong to help boost transactional activities on Bursa Malaysia, citing the increase in confidence and marketability in the current government.