(From eighth left) Liew and Jiang at the launch of China Jiangsu Service Trade Expo 2024. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star
THE China Jiangsu Service Trade Expo gave visitors a unique showcase of Chinese culture and technology.
The three-day event at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre saw the participation of hundreds of exhibitors from the Chinese province of Jiangsu.
There were seven zones covering digital services, cultural specialities, intellectual property, international education, traditional Chinese medicine, gastronomy and international tourism as well as business services.
The expo themed “Sharing Services, Sowing Successes”, which aimed to foster economic, trade and cultural cooperation, was hosted by the Jiangsu province commerce department with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia as well as various local co-organisers.
Cultural exhibits at the expo include hand fans (above) and teapots (right).
The expo was a unique mix of culture and technology, including digital service exhibits, a field in which Jiangsu province leads.
Other exhibits included silk products, cosmetics, food, tea, video games, animation and software.
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who opened the expo, emphasised the importance of engaging Chinese businesses on a provincial level.
“Jiangsu’s GDP (gross domestic product) is US$1.8 trillion (RM7.87 trillion) while Malaysia’s GDP is about US$400bil (RM1.75 trillion).
“This means Jiangsu’s GDP is about four-and-a-half times that of Malaysia,” he noted, adding that the economic potential with the Chinese province was vast.
Jiangsu province commerce department deputy director-general Jiang Xin in his speech said that in 2023, Jiangsu’s paid-in foreign investment hit US$25.34bil (RM110.82bil), ranking first in China.
Its total foreign trade, he said, stood at US$746.13bil (RM3.3 trillion), ranking second in the country.
He highlighted Jiangsu’s geographic advantage as well as its strategic location at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
Event visitors trying out virtual reality technology at the expo.
“In 2023, Jiangsu and Malaysia’s import and export trade value stood at US$183bil (RM800.4bil) making up 14% of the total between Malaysia and China.
“Malaysia’s investment in Jiangsu was worth US$32bil (RM139.96bil) while Jiangsu’s investment in Malaysia stood at US$21bil (RM91.85bil) in 185 different sectors,” he added.
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCIM) president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan announced that the 17th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention would be coming to Kuala Lumpur from Sept 9 to 11.
He said thousands of local and international entrepreneurs, including from Jiangsu, had registered for the event.
