KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister II, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will receive a courtesy call from the Mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng on his official visit to Beijing and Shanghai from 12-19th Nov. to engage in a High-Level Roundtable Meeting with major stakeholders and leaders of the palm oil industry.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, the official visit is poised to further strengthen cooperation in the areas of research and development (R&D) as well as capacity building in the field of commodities, especially in promoting the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Scheme (MSPO) at the global level.
“This year, Malaysia and China celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership while in 2024 both countries will commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
“This visit will therefore provide the opportunity for both countries to discuss and exchange views on programmes and activities to be organized next year,” the statement said.
Fadillah who is also Minister of Plantation and Commodities on his first visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since his appointment on 2nd Dec. 2022 is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Premier of China, Li Qiang, and hold a meeting with Vice Premier of China, Liu Guozhong.
“Vice Premier Liu Guozhong will also host a welcoming dinner in honour of Deputy Prime Minister II. These meetings will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss and exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement said.
The Ministry’s statement added that engagements with the Malaysian diaspora in Beijing and Shanghai will also be part of Deputy Minister II’s programmes.
“China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for the past 14 years. In 2022, the export value of Malaysian agricommodity products to China contributed as much as 12.8 percent of Malaysia’s total agricommodity exports in the international market, with a value of RM26.46 billion, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2021.
“The export value of palm-based products to China in 2022 was RM16.41 billion, while the export value of Malaysian palm oil to China in the same year was RM8.44 billion,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister II will be accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Mohamad Alamin and senior government officials –Malaysia World News
