CHINA PM VISITS MELAKA

China PM to make historical visit to Malacca

Warm welcome: Li (right) being escorted by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai upon his arrival in Kuala Lumpur for the 27th Asean summit. — Bernama
 
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is in town for the Asean Summit, is making a detour to historical city Malacca.

The visit tomorrow is set to be a momentous one, cementing ties between the city-port and China, which began when Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) sailed to Malacca more than 600 years ago.

Li’s trip will begin with a briefing by Chief Minister Datuk Seri idris Haron on development projects in the city.

Together with his wife Cheng Hong, the premier will get to experience Malacca’s unique Chinese-Malay heritage at the Baba Nyonya heritage museum.

He will visit the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, built on top of the site where the admiral’s warehouse once stood, and also the Sky Tower observatory deck on the 43rd floor of The Shore shopping complex.

Sky Tower CEO Chew Chert Fong was delighted when told that he would escort the Chinese Prime Minister to the pinnacle of The Shore’s building, currently the tallest structure in the state.

On Monday, Li will attend the Malaysia-China High Level Economic Forum and meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya.