Speech of Mr. Muzambli Markam, Consul General of Malaysia at the Symposium on Business and Cooperation in Haikou on 8 December 2015
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Members of the media,
1. I am happy to be back here in Haikou, Hainan. I feel like this is my second home away from home since this is my 4th visit to Haikou this year. Thank you very much for making me feel very much at home.
2. The Government of Malaysia has always maintained a close and friendly relationship with the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Malaysia, as in the case of many other countries had taken note of China’s concept of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) since its announcement in 2013. Malaysia believes that the initiative is economically viable and conducive, especially in the field of tourism and culture.
3. We are confident that the enhancement of land and sea connectivity will reduce the lead time, make travelling within the region much easier and open up new sources of markets of tourists for Malaysia. Having said this, it is my hope that perhaps one day a direct air link could be establish between Malaysia and Hainan, preferably in the near future. The establishment of a direct air link between Malaysia and Hainan will definitely contribute towards an increase of tourist arrivals from both sides. China is an important market for Malaysia in the field of tourism, in terms of tourist arrivals and I hope to see more of our Hainan friends visiting Malaysia.
4. From the regional tourism perspective, the MSR is seen as strategically aligned with the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 which aims to promote connectivity and travel facilitation within and outside the region and as a catalyst for economic growth.
5. People-to-people contact provides the public support for implementing this initiative. As such, friendly cooperation of the Silk Road by promoting extensive cultural and academic exchanges, personnel exchanges, media cooperation and youth exchanges could deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the Malaysia and China.
Dear friends,
6. Strategic cooperation especially cooperation in the field of culture could also significantly contribute towards deepening and broadening Malaysia-Hainan relations, hence promoting closer relations between Malaysia-China as a whole. Various programmes and activities could be conducted in order to boost and enhance existing cultural cooperation between Malaysia and Hainan such as the following:
a. Conduct active exchanges and cooperation in literature, the performing arts, visual arts, art education and cultural industry;
b. Strengthen coordination and communication between and among cultural departments of national governments and encourage non-governmental cultural and art groups to engage in multilateral cultural exchanges;
c. Step up cooperation to explore market for cultural products and vigorously develop the cultural industry;
d. Support each other on hosting high-profile cultural and art events; and
e. Jointly preserve and promote national and traditional festivals as well as encourage and support exchanges and cooperation in traditional games and sports.
7. To increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, greater and deeper mutual understanding between the people is conducive to the all-around, sustained and steady growth of the friendship between Malaysia and China.
8. Finally, I am convinced that for Malaysia and Hainan to further develop its relations, people from both sides of the divide needs to tap on the creative and innovative resources of Malaysia and China through economic and social collaborations and ventures.
With that, I thank you.
