Chinese firms may be involved in double-tracking rail project
(Bernama) – Chinese companies may be asked to participate in the completion of the double-tracking rail system in the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In a question-and-answer session at the one-day Malaysia-China Business Forum here today, he said he had touched on the issue of Chinese companies taking part in infrastructure projects in Malaysia during his discussions with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.
He said a Chinese company would be involved in the construction of the second Penang Bridge while another would take the majority share in a joint venture related to the expansion of the Mengkuang Dam in Penang.
Najib also said that Chinese companies would be considered for the energy sector in Sarawak related to the Bakun Dam and they would also be invited for the expansion of Malaysia's information and communications technology sector.
Earlier, China's Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu said in his welcoming remarks that the way forward for China and Malaysia in the current economic downturn was to strengthen their economic cooperation.
There are a lot of areas that the business communities of both countries could collaborate for a better future, he said.
Hui said he took note of Malaysia's Vision 2020 and that China too had a similar timeframe to further uplift its development for the benefit of its people.
Later Najib witnessed an exchange of documents of 16 memoranda of understanding between Malaysian and Chinese companies and organisations.
They include INS Bioscience Bhd, which exchanged documents with two parties, the first with Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co Ltd to manufacture halal insulin, and the second with a partner in Dalian to manufacture bio-fertilisers.
Jia Yu Home Entertainment Sdn Bhd, which is a collaboration with MDeC, signed an agreement with the Nanning and Chengsa TV stations to undertake joint production of the 2010 Chinese New Year "live" broadcast.
CIMB Bank Bhd exchanged documents with Yingkou Co Ltd to complete a 19.99% acquisition of Bank of Yingkou while SP Setia Bhd will team up with Hangzhou Ju Shen Construction Engineering Ltd to develop a piece of land measuring about 12 hectares in Xiao Shan in Zhejiang province.
Another MoU involving property development is related to Dutaland Bhd's joint venture with the BODA Group to develop a 1.3 ha piece of land in Shijiazhuang, a provincial capital within the Beijing-Tianjin area.
Dibena Enterprise Sdn Bhd signed two MoUs, one with Becom Software Co Ltd to undertake a joint venture in smart student cards in Malaysia, and with Beijing Risbo Networking Technology Co Ltd to collaborate in wired and wireless networks in Malaysia and China.
China's Huawei Technologies signed two MoUs, one with Technology Park Malaysia in human capital development for the telecommunications industry, and another with Universiti Teknikal MARA for the same purpose.
Other MoUs include Lion Blast Furnace Sdn Bhd with EXIM Bank China to finance a blast furnace project; Danga Bay Sdn Bhd with Beijing School of Foreign Languages to develop an educational institution in Iskandar Malaysia; Sunzen Biotech Bhd with Regalplus (Beijing) Investment Consultant Co Ltd to supply animal feed additives made from biotechnology; Acacia Cellulose International Sdn Bhd with China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation to construct a pulp and paper mill.
Bell Corporation Sdn Bhd and Oriental Children Care Green Product Development Co Ltd on marketing personal care products; and Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to jointly promote trade and human resource training.
