KUCHING: Sarawak hopes to see bilateral trade between Malaysia and China continue to grow stronger.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said it is anticipated that this will become one of the main driving forces for Sarawak to become a developed state by 2030.
“In 2021, the trade volume between Sarawak and China was recorded at RM27.045 billion, with export volume from Sarawak to China amounting to RM18.633 billion.
“This is for export which is mainly based on our commodities including liquefied natural gas (LNG),” he said during the 48th Anniversary of Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relations and Mid-Autumn Festival dinner at the Shangri-La Restaurant here on Sunday (Sept 18).
He added that the import volume from China to Sarawak for the same period amounted to RM8.4 billion.
“Our imports may not be high, probably because China has a big population, so that is why the export to China is high, while Sarawak has a small population, thus the import volume is small.
“However, we have the resources, and I am sure that our Special Envoy to China Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing will also continue to promote Sarawak to China,” he said.
On the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, Abang Johari said this saw Malaysia being the first Asean country to have formal diplomatic relations with China, and have bilateral trade between the two countries.
“This (bilateral trade) has been growing year after year, full of vitality, and has also brought a huge surplus to our country.
“It has made a huge contribution to the economic growth of our country, of which Sarawak also accounts for a sizable proportion,” he said.
Abang Johari also mentioned many projects in Sarawak including the Batang Lupar Bridge project being undertaken together with Chinese companies from China.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Xing Weiping, Kuching-China Trades Importers and Exporters Association (KCTIEA) president Datuk Yii Ming Tang, and organsing chairman of the dinner Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok.
