Penang DAP Chairperson, Steven Sim Chee Keong, recently led a delegation of State Committee members on an official visit to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang. The delegation met with Consul General Mr. Zhou Youbin and his team to explore deeper cooperation in trade, culture, tourism, and governance.
Steven Sim, who is also the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, noted during the exchange that the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations last year served as a historic milestone, offering a fresh opportunity for both nations to strengthen collaboration between their micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Highlighting Penang’s position as a premier hub for high-tech manufacturing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Sim said that both government agencies and the private sector should seize opportunities arising from China’s economic structural upgrades. He called for deeper collaboration in industrial synergy, skills transfer, and market integration to navigate global challenges such as rising protectionism and external uncertainties.
Consul General Zhou Youbin echoed these sentiments, identifying significant potential for collaboration in emerging sectors, including green energy, the digital economy, smart manufacturing, and the creative industries.
Both parties also reviewed the successful outcomes of China’s delegations from Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces to Northern Malaysia in 2024. These visits successfully facilitated several investment projects, signaling a continued upward trend in regional cooperation.
Consul General Zhou Youbin subsequently emphasized that the Consulate General of China in Penang attaches great importance to maintaining close ties with the governments of the four northern Malaysian states, and is willing to work together to deepen and strengthen subnational cooperation and exchanges between China and Malaysia.
Sim also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Consul General Zhou Youbin for his longstanding coordination and significant contributions to the northern region of Malaysia.
He credited the Consul General’s efforts for the successful implementation of various collaborative projects between Northern Malaysia and China across key sectors, including education, tourism, trade, and investment.
The DAP Penang State Committee members present at the session were Lim Siew Khim, Teh Lai Heng, Soon Lip Chee, Rachel Teh Chuann Yien, Foo Yu Keong, Ooi Yong Wooi, Lee Wei Seang, State DAPSY Chief Derick Chong, and Executive Secretary Chris Lee Chun Kit.