(Central News Agency reporter Huang Ziqiang, Kuala Lumpur, 14th) Taiwan suspended the promotion of bilateral economic and trade-related meetings between Taiwan and Malaysia in October. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar said in Congress on the 12th that Malaysia has contacted Taiwan and hopes to resume the Taiwan-Malaysia Economic Cooperation Committee meeting. Lien Yu-ping, the representative in Malaysia, said in an interview with a reporter from the Central News Agency today that safeguarding national sovereignty can ensure economic security. When Taiwanese businessmen set out overseas, it is also important to protect the investment rights and interests. Relevant units from Taiwan and Malaysia are continuing to communicate and hope to accumulate more mutual trust.
Lian Yuping, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, pointed out that Taiwan’s current investment in Malaysia exceeds US$17 billion. In recent years, the bilateral trade content can also be seen that investment drives trade. With the continuous development of today's semiconductor and AI industries, future investment is about the movement of supply chains and the reconstruction of ecosystems, not just a single investment case.
She said that Taiwan suspended the promotion of bilateral economic and trade-related meetings in October, and relevant units from Taiwan and Malaysia are currently in continuous communication. The Malaysian government should face up to the current close economic and trade relations between the two countries, accumulate more mutual trust, and create more favorable conditions for more cooperation in the future.
Lian Yuping believes that only by safeguarding national sovereignty can economic security be ensured, especially in high-tech or strategic industries. When Taiwanese businessmen set out overseas, the protection of investment rights is very important.
Jacob Lee, President of the Malaysian Manufacturing Federation, said in an interview that Malaysia has been deeply involved in the electronics and semiconductor industry for 50 years. Over the past 50 years, Taiwan has participated in establishing Malaysia's semiconductor supply chain, and has also provided great help to local small and medium-sized enterprises in terms of high-tech manufacturing, parts supply, and employee training.
He pointed out that trade exchanges between Taiwan and Malaysia, as well as the operation of Taiwanese factories in Malaysia, are operating as normal. This year, Malaysia and Taiwan have continued to develop in a positive direction in the electronics industry, traditional manufacturing and trade, and the bilateral trade volume has also continued to rise.
He believes that Taiwanese businessmen will continue to make positive contributions in Malaysia, including expanding factories, increasing production, and driving the continued growth of more local production and supply chains.
Nikkei Asia recently quoted Malaysian government sources as reporting that Taiwan has shelved expanded bilateral trade talks with Malaysia that were originally scheduled to be held. This highlights that Anwar's Taiwan-related remarks have strained bilateral relations and the industry is worried that future semiconductor investment will be affected. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed at a regular press conference on the 10th that it has suspended bilateral investment negotiations, but will continue to communicate and hopes that the Malaysian government will face up to the close bilateral investment relationship.
Anwar Ibrahim said in Congress on the 12th in response to the controversy over Taiwan-related remarks that Malaysia has contacted Taiwan and hopes to resume the Taiwan-Malaysia Economic Cooperation Committee meeting. He reiterated that Malaysia's "One China Policy" stance has never changed, and said that Taiwan-Malaysia economic, trade and investment relations have not been affected by the crisis, and bilateral trade volume continues to grow.
The meeting involved in the Taiwan-Malaysia bilateral investment consultation is the 11th Taiwan-Malaysia Economic Cooperation Committee (MTECC) meeting originally scheduled to be held in late October. The committee consists of investment working group, trade working group, small and medium-sized enterprise development working group and enterprise advisory group. Among them, the small and medium-sized enterprise development working group and the trade working group have both met. The Business Advisory Group held its 7th joint meeting in Kuala Lumpur on September 22 to compile suggestions from the industry and submit them to the Taiwan-Malaysia Economic Cooperation Committee as a reference for policy discussions. (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1151114
