Why Malaysia supports China’s belt and road
Najib Razak says cooperation in trade and infrastructure-building cements friendships and brings mutual gains, as demonstrated by the projects so far under the auspices of this visionary initiative
A phrase we often hear from China is “win-win cooperation”, and there are those who are sceptical when they hear it. But we in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can see the truth in it when we consider just some of the game-changing infrastructure projects resulting from the belt and road initiative: for example, the China-Laos railway; the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway; the Nakhon Ratchasima-Bangkok high-speed railway; and, for us in Malaysia, the East Coast Rail Link. The rail line will drive connectivity and economic growth for Malaysia’s underdeveloped east coast, and act as a land-bridge enabling cost- and time-efficient transport of goods between Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
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It may seem ridiculous to readers in China or other visitors at the forum, but there are some opposition politicians in my country who say we are selling our sovereignty by agreeing to such projects. But I make no apologies for wanting to build world-class infrastructure for Malaysia that will, with local ownership being preserved, open up huge swathes of our country, bringing more trade and opportunity to our people, thousands of new jobs, improved living standards and prosperity.
In the days of the old Silk Road, those who had wisdom knew that open minds, and borders open to trade, do not compromise sovereignty, but are in the interests of all countries. The same is true today, and we welcome investment from all our friends and partners, just as Malaysia, as a seafaring, outward-looking nation, proud of its diversity, moderation and tolerance, has always traded with and invested in countries around the world, including China.
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The littoral mission ships we agreed to buy from China, meanwhile, will provide jobs in both Malaysia and China – as the first two ships are being built in each country – as well as knowledge transfer to Malaysia, and help safeguard the safety and security of all Malaysians.
That is truly an example of win-win cooperation, and if it is on that basis that the belt and road initiative continues to develop, we should all welcome it. We should all contribute to and participate in it. And we should all wish it every success.
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For, as Asia continues to rise and takes a greater place on the world stage, this model will ensure we do so as friends to all, helping those who have been left behind in our own countries and other parts of the world, and open to friends and partners from across the continents.
This is the “Asian Century”, so let us ensure that it is marked not by the strife, wars and enmity of past centuries. Let us instead be true to our values of mutual respect, peace, harmony and non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states. Let us forge ahead with the building of new trade routes that diminishes none, but serves to increase the prosperity of all humanity.
I am sure that the forum, as part of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative, will prove to be an important step in that direction.
Najib Razak is prime minister of Malaysia