Zahid travels to China to boost trade and halal industry

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his four-day working visit to China aims to further strengthen the longstanding bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.

In a Facebook post today, Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the visit will help enhance cooperation in the halal industry, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and trade, in line with the shared commitment to the New Golden Era of Malaysia-China Cooperation.

"During this visit, I am scheduled to attend the opening of the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and to officiate the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) Shanghai 2025, which serves as a platform to promote Malaysia's halal industry in the global market," Bernama reported him saying on Wednesday.

He added, "I will also visit the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) Pavilion, which symbolises the close collaboration between Malaysian and Chinese business communities, and witness several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) exchanges between Malaysian agencies and Chinese industry players."

Zahid expressed hope that the visit would reflect Malaysia's continued commitment to strengthening trust, driving innovation, and opening new opportunities that benefit the people of both nations.

The Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Shanghai last night at the invitation of the Chinese government to attend the CIIE, held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC).

The CIIE is a Chinese government initiative providing a platform for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to promote and export goods and services to China.

This marks Zahid’s first attendance at the expo and Malaysia’s second participation at the highest level since the event’s debut in 2018. Last year, the 7th CIIE was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Today, Zahid is expected to attend the CIIE opening ceremony and witness the MoU exchange between Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), one of China’s top nine universities. He will also grace the opening of the CIDBH Information Centre.

China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years since 2009, with bilateral trade reaching RM484.12 billion in 2024, accounting for 16.8 per cent of Malaysia’s total global trade of RM2.879 trillion.

In the halal sector, Malaysia recorded RM61.79 billion in halal exports in 2024, a 15 per cent increase from the previous year. China is Malaysia’s second-largest halal export destination, with exports valued at RM7.04 billion last year. - November 5, 2025