On September 10th, the 17th World Chinese Business Conference kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, drawing over 4,000 representatives from around the globe. With the theme “Shaping a New Order, Creating New Opportunities,” the conference aimed to explore how innovation could address the shifting dynamics of the world economy.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the event and delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the robust bilateral trade and investment ties between Malaysia and China. He emphasized that these connections lay a strong foundation for their ongoing relationship. The Prime Minister also praised the contributions of the Chinese community to Malaysia’s economy, education, society, and culture, recognizing the vital role that Chinese businesses play in enhancing trade links and promoting global economic development.
During the conference, Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, invited Chinese entrepreneurs to consider Malaysia as a prime destination for overseas development. He underscored Malaysia’s commitment to fostering a favorable investment environment that supports business growth.
The conference featured an array of discussions on topics such as China’s new economy and globalization, the legacies and innovations of youth entrepreneurs, advancements in the semiconductor industry, green and AI economies, the development of disruptive technologies, the potential of the ASEAN market, and the importance of Chinese language education within the community. Lu Chongquan, the president of the Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, noted a significant increase in participation compared to previous conferences. For the first time, the event also included cross-industry business matchmaking, attracting over a thousand companies seeking partnerships. Furthermore, the conference plans to organize visits to various Malaysian states for Chinese entrepreneurs to explore additional business opportunities.
Cai Guanshen, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce, shared his vision since taking over the secretariat of the World Chinese Business Conference last year. He aims to strengthen connections among Chinese businesses, unify the entrepreneurial community, and support the legacy and innovation of enterprises. Cai hopes that this conference will tap into the collective wisdom and strength of the community, inspire new ideas, uncover fresh business opportunities, and inject new energy into the global Chinese business network.
The World Chinese Business Conference, which first took place in Singapore in 1991, is organized this year by the Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce and will conclude on September 11.
