- Malaysia and China to deepen cooperation in the digital economy, AI, and smart cities.
- Focus on renewable energy services, EV ecosystem, and green data centres.
- Services trade reached RM44.42 billion in 2024, a 57.2 percent increase.
Malaysia seeks to maximize the potential of its service sectors by strengthening partnerships with China, especially in the fields of digital economy, green technology, and connectivity.
Senior director of the Services Sector Development Division at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), See Chee Kong, stated that both nations should aim to enhance their current partnership in the digital realm, especially in fields such as cross-border e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and the development of smart cities.
"Cross-border e-commerce platforms enable our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access vast markets, while cooperation in digital infrastructure and data management can enhance our business ecosystems,” he said.
In a conversation with Bernama at the 2025 Jiangsu International Services Trade Expo today, he mentioned that MITI is exploring ways to improve collaboration with not only Jiangsu province but other potential provinces in China as well.
See observed that Malaysia and China hold a mutual dedication to sustainability and may enhance their trade in services by partnering in renewable energy service initiatives, creating green data centres, and fostering a dynamic ecosystem for electric vehicles and their related infrastructure.
He mentioned that apart from physical infrastructure initiatives like the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the two nations could consider enhancing connectivity in the services industry.
"This includes improving logistics such as air connectivity between China and the Southern region of West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
"They could also explore enhancing financial services to facilitate smoother trade, as well as fostering people-to-people exchange through education and tourism services. This will help build the required talent and cultural understanding needed for long-term growth,” he said.
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On April 16, while China’s President Xi Jinping was in Malaysia, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to boost trade in services and collaboration in industry.
The total services trade between the two nations hit RM44.42 billion in 2024, reflecting a 57.2 percent rise compared to the previous year. For 16 straight years, China has been Malaysia's primary trading partner, with total bilateral trade hitting RM484.12 billion in 2024.
"The strategic partnership between the two nations has further solidified through key collaborations, including the Belt and Road Initiatives and the Five-Year Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation.
"As China is one of Malaysia’s top three destinations for both export and import of the services trade in 2024, the Malaysian government, through MITI, is committed to facilitating this growth, recognising its potential to diversify our economy and enhance our competitiveness,” he said. - Bernama