China·Qinzhou www.qinzhou.gov.cn 7 March 2012
Source: Qinzhou Daily reported by Lu Chonglin, Wang Hulu
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting (centre), accompanied by Zhang Xiaoqin (second from left), Xiao Yingzi (second from right), Tang Xianjin (first from left) and Li Xing (first from right) at the visit to Qinzhou Industrial Park and was very impressed with the pace of development. (Photograph by Xie Yongyun)
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China and Chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council led a delegation to Qinzhou on March 5 and 6 on a study tour of the Qinzhou Industrial Park which is fast taking shape in the coastal city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Accompanied by Mr Zhang Xiaoqin, Secretary of the Qinzhou Municipal Party Committee and a delegate to the National People’s Congress, and Madam Xiao Yingzi, the Mayor of Qinzhou, the delegation toured the Malaysian-Chinese joint-venture project and was very impressed with the pace of development.
They had also reached general consensus during their discussion on the development of the project. Both sides agreed that based on such understanding, further consultations will be held to make it a success. An MoU of cooperation was signed.
At their meeting, Mr Zhang Xiaoqin extended his warmest welcome on behalf of the Qinzhou Municipality to Tan Sri Ong and his delegation. He was grateful to Tan Sri Ong for his contribution in the promotion of the Qinzhou Industrial Park.
He welcomed Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in the park while on his part, he will ensure that the Qinzhou Municipality and local authorities will do their utmost to provide the best partnership, the best services and the best environment for Malaysian investors in line with the cooperative spirit of the MoU.
Tan Sri Ong and his delegation made a tour of the Qinzhou Port Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Qinzhou Free Trade Zone. They visited Guangxi Petrochemical, Jingui Papermaking Factory and the coastal city.
He was deeply impressed by the excellent results of Qinzhou’s aggressive development strategy in the building of new ports, new industrial parks and new cities, as well as its stress on technical education in order to bring benefits to its people. He commended highly the ability of the Qinzhou Municipality in seizing the opportunity provided by the national initiative in the development of Beibu Gulf region.
The highlight of the tour was a visit to the Qinzhou Industrial Park on the morning of March 6. The expressway to the park is wide and well paved and is lined with shady trees. On what was a muddy site 10 days ago now stands a 12-metre arch that serves as a grand gateway to the park. The first floor of the 8000sq metre office building is now completed while the big square in front of the office has been paved with concrete.
The acquisition of land and resettlement of people have been done while works on the provision of basic amenities such as laying of pipes, water and electricity supplies are also progressing well.
Tan Sri Ong was particularly impressed with the rapid pace of development of the park. He was praiseful of the efficiency and dynamism shown by the Qinzhou Municipality and all the agencies involved in the development.
He stressed that the Qinzhou Industrial Park was jointly launched by the Prime Ministers of China and Malaysia and was particularly significant because it stands as a testimony to the close cooperation between Malaysia and China. The Malaysian Government is confident that the joint efforts made in the development of the park would help to achieve a win-win situation and further enhance the close ties between the two countries.
He pledged that the Malaysia-China Business Council will continue to play its role to encourage more Malaysian entrepreneurs to understand Guangxi, invest in Guangxi and participate in the development of the Qinzhou Industrial Park.
The Malaysian delegation was satisfied with the environment. They felt that the tour had been an eye-opener and they were happy to be a part of the Qinzhou Industrial Park development. They also pledged their utmost to make the joint-venture project a success.
During the two-day visit, an MoU of cooperation was signed between the Executive Chairman of the Rimbunan Hijau Group Tan Sri Sir Tiong Hiew King and the Mayor of Qinzhou Xiao Yingzi that provides the framework for the establishment of the Malaysian Chinese joint investment company to spearhead the development of the iconic project.
SOURCE: Qinzhou Goverment Official Website (http://www.qinzhou.gov.cn/Item/13189.aspx)
Translated by Hoo Ban Khee
