PUTRAJAYA JUNE 23: The Asia and Pacific High-Level Video Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation have focused on an open, fair and non-discriminatory international cooperation on vaccines as well as promotion of green development for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in his speech among others has emphasized the importance of balancing the public health considerations and intensification of the global efforts to combating COVID-19 pandemic under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Hishammuddin also focused on the current challenges afflicting the global vaccine equity as well as ways to build and strengthen national resilience against the more virulent pandemics in the future.
“In line with the theme of the conference, Hishammuddin shared his reflection on the “green development” along the peripheries of the BRI and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The pandemic has seen a protracted and difficult struggle for the world, but Malaysia believes that the throw of innovative ideas and forward looking green strategies will enable countries in the Asia Pacific region to better emerge from the pandemic, and position them on the road towards sustainable growth,” Hishammudin added.
Hishammuddin participated in the Conference at the invitation of Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Malaysia and China signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Mutual Economic Development” through the PRC’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative on 13th May 2017.
In 2020, Malaysia’s total trade with China expanded by 4.2%, reaching RM329.77 billion in value. The surge was mainly contributed by a 12.5% increase in value of export to China amounting to RM158.6 billion. China stood as Malaysia’s largest export destination for 12 consecutive years since 2008.-Malaysia World News
