‘Many flowers make spring’: Anwar affirms Malaysia open to China’s digital investment

HANGZHOU, Sept 24 — Malaysia will continue to be open to China’s investment in digital technology as well as cooperation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) opening ceremony here Thursday, Anwar credited the Chinese government’s willingness to showcase and share technologies through various platforms.

“From food to new technology, and the host China, as you host digitally today, has shown your willingness to showcase and share this technology. This applies well to the digital economy and (this is) why we will continue to open our economy to benefit digital investments and partnerships.

“Thank you for allowing us to showcase Malaysia’s national pavilion, including Chinese participation,” he said.

At the same time, the prime minister also shared Malaysia’s advantages, which are the discipline of their workers, skill, multilingual workforce, rules-based economy, and a base for reaching markets across Asia and beyond.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, welcomed China’s President Xi Jinping’s strong position that digital trade and artificial intelligence (AI) should help mitigate inequality instead of worsening it.

Citing a Chinese proverb, “a single flower alone does not make spring; when many flowers blossom, spring fills the garden”, the prime minister said progress will mean little if its gains are confined to a few countries, a few companies, a few communities or elites.

“A stronger digital economy will be one in which more nations can take part, more businesses can compete, and more people can prosper. Let us work together to help build this economy,” Anwar emphasised.

Held at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Centre, the five-day expo, officiated by Premier Li Qiang, is one of China’s major digital economy platforms that highlights AI and global cooperation.

Anwar is in China for a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou, which ends today. The working visit includes a high-level bilateral meeting with Li and engagements with Chinese leaders and captains of industry. — Bernama