Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang Archives - HOMESTAY MELAKA ADA SWIMMING POOL; MURAH & SELESA

Updated: Tuesday September 22, 2015 MYT 7:05:07 AM
Guangdong eyes Malacca

Strengthening tiesNajib observing the ‘Friendly State and Province’ MoU signing between Idris and Zhu at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya. Looking on are (back row, from left) Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang. — Bernama
Strengthening tiesNajib observing the ‘Friendly State and Province’ MoU signing between Idris and Zhu at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya. Looking on are (back row, from left) Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang. — Bernama

MALACCA: The state has a great potential to be an international sea port by 2025 with fiscal commitment from Guangdong, China.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said Guangdong provincial government was interested to construct harbour facilities to turn Malacca into a top nautical hub in this region on par with Singapore.

“We are talking about a huge investment by the Chinese and once materialised, Malacca will be recognised as the largest port in this region,” he said here yesterday.

Besides the port, Idris said Guangdong was looking at unveiling another airport here as a catalyst to tourism and industrial development in Malacca.

Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaodan, he added, had also expressed interest during his working visit to Malacca on Saturday in focusing on man-made Pulau Melaka’s potential as a tourist port project as well as to cater to the needs of the maritime industry.

“Zhu is looking at the long-term, progressive development here as the state has potential as new growth area for Asean,” he said.

Idris also revealed that Zhu toured the Melaka Gateway residential and commercial property project in Pulau Melaka during his visit.

“Zhu is also passionate about bringing our bilateral ties to greater heights as well as being enthusiastic about a win-win strategy for both governments,” he said.

The state government, said Idris, had created a new portfolio known as International Trade helmed by State Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong.

Malaysians may soon be able to visit China without any visa requirement, said Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang. Speaking during the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce’s 25th anniversary dinner here, Dr Huang promised that China would fully cooperate with Malaysia to make the dream of travelling to the country visa-free come true. “When you want to go, you can go anytime without any visa requirement. Let us work together towards this goal,” he said.

However, he hoped the Malaysian Government would reciprocate, by taking a bigger step to ensure everyone from mainland China could visit Malaysia visa-free as well. Dr Huang said the Chinese people loved visiting Malaysia for its culture and environment and the good relationship between both nations. “In spite of the MH370 incident, Chinese tourists are still coming to Malaysia and we hope the Malaysian Government can move forward in exempting the visa,” he said.

Dr Huang believed that both sides could come up with a conclusion to open up their countries’ gates to each other soon. “Now, the Malaysian Government is providing visa-free travel for tour groups on a temporary basis. We want Malaysia to make a final decision and do away with the requirement for all Chinese tourists. Then, we can sit down to discuss how we can take some reciprocal measures for Malaysia,” he said.

Dr Huang said the Chinese embassy and its consulates-general in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang were taking measures to make travel more convenient for Malaysians to China. “It is time for both sides to do away with the visa but not now,” he said.

It was reported that the Government had agreed to grant visa exemption for Chinese tour groups on a trial basis for one year. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had announced that the move was decided by the Cabinet last week and the implementation date would be announced by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

Tourism Malaysia industry development division director Saidi Bundan had said more work needed to be done to attract Chinese tourists back to Malaysia following the MH370 incident. He said the case had cast a pall over arrivals from China, which recorded a 27% drop in the first three months of this year compared to 2014. – TheStar.