The Chinese Consul-General in Penang highlights the potential for increased industrial, technological, and people-to-people collaboration between China and the northern Malaysian states of Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Perlis, aligning with Malaysia's growth priorities in areas like the digital economy, energy transition, and industrial upgrading. Emphasis is placed on cooperation in semiconductors, new energy, AI, and tourism.
CHINA sees strong potential to deepen industrial, technological and people-to-people collaboration with Penang, Kedah, Perak and Perlis as its next five-year development plan aligns closely with Malaysia ’s own growth priorities.
Chinese Consul-General in Penang Zhou Youbin said in an interview that China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will run from this year, placed heavy emphasis on high-quality growth, technological self-reliance and emerging industries. These are areas that match Malaysia’s national plans on the digital economy, energy transition and industrial upgrading.He said Chinese companies in sectors such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles and lithium batteries had in recent years expanded their presence in northern Malaysia. Their efforts created clustering effects in locations such as Tanjung Malim Automotive Valley in Perak and Kulim Industrial Park in Kedah. These clusters, he said, had attracted more upstream and downstream players, helping to build more complete industrial ecosystems and becoming key highlights of investment cooperation between the two sides. In Penang, Zhou said the state government’s push to move the semiconductor industry upstream through initiatives such as integrated circuit design had opened up further room for collaboration, as China had made significant progress in this area, with some firms competing globally. He said China was willing to deepen alignment between its five-year planning framework and Malaysia’s development agenda, particularly in semiconductors, new energy, artificial intelligence, tourism and related services to jointly develop what he described as new quality productive forces. Addressing concerns about competition from Chinese companies and products, Zhou said Chinese investment in Malaysia had shifted over the years from lower-end processing activities to sectors that were more automated, technology-intensive and environmentally friendly. He said Chinese firms were no longer merely investors or partners but were increasingly becoming long-term contributors to Malaysia’s industrial transformation, citing automotive and manufacturing cooperation in Perak as examples of technology and skills transfer. Zhou said Malaysian small and medium enterprises could view competition as an opportunity to upgrade operations, improve efficiency and build brands rooted in local culture and craftsmanship, while working with Chinese firms to access wider markets through e-commerce, digital payment systems and social media platforms. He added that Chinese companies operating overseas were required to comply with local laws, respect religious and cultural practices and fulfil corporate social responsibility. On people-to-people ties, Zhou said cooperation in tourism, education and culture between China and northern Malaysia had expanded significantly following the mutual visa-free arrangement and a rise in direct air links between Penang and major Chinese cities. He said Penang remained a key entry point for Chinese visitors, while other northern states offered attractions ranging from natural landscapes to historical sites, supported by growing promotional activities and exchanges. Looking back on the 10 years since the establishment of the Chinese Consulate-General in Penang, Zhou said the mission had worked closely with state governments and local stakeholders to facilitate investment, exchanges and cooperation across economic, educational and cultural fields. He said the consulate aimed to further strengthen engagement with the four northern states over the next decade, particularly in new technologies and emerging sectors, while continuing to support people-to-people exchanges and long-term cooperation.
China Malaysia Investment Five-Year Plan Industrial Cooperation
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Malaysia suffer heavy 4–1 defeat to dominant China in BATC curtain-raiserKUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Malaysian women began their Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2026 campaign in Qingdao, China, on a sour note — losing 4-1 to the hosts in Group W...
Read more »
Malaysia Broadens Trade Strategy, Eyes South-South Partnerships and New FTAsMalaysia is expanding its trade strategy, focusing on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developing nations in the South-South region, including West Asia, Latin America, and Africa. This move aims to diversify trade relationships and boost economic growth. The country is also actively reviewing and upgrading existing FTAs.
Read more »
Malaysia-China Institute to Boost TVET CooperationMalaysia and China are set to strengthen strategic cooperation through the establishment of the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI), focusing on high-impact Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The institute will facilitate knowledge exchange, talent development, and training programs across various sectors, including automotive, electric vehicles, and robotics.
Read more »
Zeekr Adjusts 7X Pricing in Malaysia, Eyes PHEV Launch and Market ExpansionZeekr Malaysia announces a price increase for the 7X model, plans for a PHEV launch, and highlights strong performance in the Malaysian EV market, including registration figures for the 7X, 009, and X models.
Read more »
China-Malaysia Ties Flourish Amidst Global Economic ChallengesThe Chinese ambassador to Malaysia highlights the robust relationship between China and Malaysia, celebrating economic achievements, technological advancements, and shared global initiatives during the Chinese New Year reception. The ambassador emphasized the strong economic ties, with China being Malaysia's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years. The ambassador also highlighted key developments like the ECRL project and the 'Two Countries, Twin Parks' project.
Read more »
Malaysia-China Cooperation: A Deepening Partnership for Sustainable GrowthMalaysia and China are strengthening their economic ties, with a focus on high-quality growth, industrial upgrades, and the green transition. The China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia (CECCM) annual dinner highlighted increased investment, deeper industrial chain collaboration, and a shared vision for a sustainable future. Government officials and business leaders from both countries attended, emphasizing the importance of mutual benefit, technology transfer, and a favorable business environment. China remains Malaysia’s largest trading partner, and the partnership is set to expand in various sectors including renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and electric vehicle supply chains.
Read more »