SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR RECEPTION & “FESTIVAL OF SPRING” 2024

CHINESE NEW YEAR GALA

BY THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

中华人民共和国驻槟城总领事馆2024年新春招待会

冀“四海同春”慰侨访演

槟州首席部长曹观友致词稿

24 FEBRUARY 2024 (SATURDAY) | 750PM

DEWAN SRI PINANG

Tuan Yang Terutama

Tun Dato' Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang

槟州元首敦阿末弗兹

Yang Amat Berbahagia

Toh Puan Dato' Seri Utama Khadijah binti Mohd Nor

槟州元首夫人杜潘卡蒂嘉

H.E. Mr. Zhou Youbin

Chinese Consul-General in Penang

中华人民共和国驻槟城总领事周游斌阁下

Distinguished guests

各位嘉宾

Ladies & Gentlemen

女士们，先生们

A very good evening to you all.

大家晚上好。

First and foremost, I am honored to stand before you today on this opportune occasion of the Lunar New Year, a celebration that unites us in joy and camaraderie. I extend my warmest greetings and sincere wishes to each and every one of you, and I am especially delighted to express my deepest gratitudes to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Penang for organizing this annual Spring Festival Reception.

首先，我很荣幸能够在农历新年这个时刻与大家相聚在一起。这项庆典将我们团结于欢乐和友谊之中。我向大家致以最诚挚的问候和美好的祝愿，特别感谢中国驻槟总领馆举办这每年一度的新春招待会。

The consulate's general efforts in fostering stronger ties between our two nations and promotion of cultural understanding are truly commendable. Penang has always cherished its longstanding relationship with China, and we look forward to nurturing and expanding this partnership for the mutual benefit of our communities.

总领馆在促进我们两国之间更紧密的联系和推动文化理解方面所做的努力值得赞扬。槟城一直珍视与中国的长久关系，我们期待着为我们社区的共同利益而培育和扩大这种合作关系。

The Lunar New Year holds a special place in the hearts of Penangites. Penang is a vibrant yet dynamic state that proudly embraces its cultural diversity, history, and heritage. As we gather here tonight, we are not only welcoming the year of the dragon but also celebrating the rich tapestry of heritage shared between Penang, Malaysia, and the People’s Republic of China. This festivity resonates well with our spirit of unity, prosperity, and renewal, values that transcend borders and bring communities across seas, together.

农历新年对槟城人有着特殊的意义。槟城是一个充满活力的州属，我们自豪地拥抱其文化多样性、历史和遗产。今晚我们聚集在这里，不仅是迎接迎龙年的到来，也庆祝槟城、马来西亚和中国之间共享的丰富遗产。这个节日与我们团结、繁荣和复兴的精神相契合，这些价值超越了国界，将跨海社区团结在一起。

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,

尊敬的元首伉俪、女士们、先生们，

Behind our shared heritage comes a strong historical linkage that dates back to the times of the Malacca Sultanates and the Ming Dynasty. Nevertheless, modern diplomatic endeavors were realized during Malaysia’s rapprochement policy towards China in 1974 following the signing of the Joint Communique between Malaysia’s Second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and then Chinese Premier Zhou En-Lai. In 2013, relations of the two nations were enhanced to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in which saw the increase of business, people, political, cultural, and economic exchanges. Just last year, the two nations witnessed the testament of such partnership, most notably when Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited China in March and September. Followed by the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China H.E Zhao Leji to Malaysia in September and  Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister II Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof visit in November.

在我们共同的遗产背后，有着悠久的历史联系，可以追溯到马六甲苏丹国和明朝时期。然而，现代外交努力始于马来西亚于1974年向中国提出恢复邦交政策，随后在马来西亚第二任首相敦阿都拉萨和当时的中国总理周恩来签署联合公报后实现。2013年，两国关系升级为全面战略伙伴关系，促进了商业、人文、政治、文化和经济交流。就在去年，两国见证了这种伙伴关系的巅峰时刻，尤其是在我国首相拿督斯里安华于3月和9月访问中国时。随后，中国第十四届全国人大常委会委员长赵乐际于9月访问马来西亚，我国第二副首相拿督斯里法迪拉于11月访问中国。

In this respect, Penang had also witnessed working visits from high-level Chinese dignitaries last year, including the Vice President Of The People’s Republic Of China, H.E Han Zheng in November and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August. Hence, these momentous visits underscore the significance of Penang in the Malaysia-China dynamic.

在这方面，槟城去年也迎来了来自中国高级政要的重要访问，包括中国国家副主席韩正于11月访问和中国中央政治局委员、外交部长王毅于8月访问。这些访问凸显了槟城在马中关系中的重要地位。

For 15 consecutive years, China remains as Malaysia's largest trading partner while Malaysia remains as China’s second-largest trading partner within ASEAN. In that regards, it is reported that in the first 7 months of 2023, bilateral trade volume between the two nations reached RM504.49 billion. Recently, figures from the Malaysian Ministry of Investment Trade, Industry, and Investment (MITI) indicated that for January 2024, China recorded 16.9 percent of Malaysia’s total trade, edging up by 6.9 percent year over year (y-o-y) to RM39.57 billion. Attributing such to the electrical and electronics (E&E), petroleum, palm oil, minerals, and machinery products etc.

中国连续15年成为马来西亚最大贸易伙伴，马来西亚依然是中国在东盟内的第二大贸易伙伴。据悉，2023年前7个月，两国双边贸易额达到5044.9亿令吉。最近，马来西亚投资贸易、工业及投资部（MITI）的数据显示，2024年1月，中国占马来西亚贸易总额的16.9％，同比增长6.9％至395.7亿令吉。这主要归因于电气和电子（E&E）、石油、棕榈油、矿产和机械产品等。

Under my stewardship, Penang has played an incremental role in not just maintaining bilateral ties between the two nations but also as a focal point in forging bridges in new areas. Penang, dubbed as the “Silicon Valley of the East” is a regional powerhouse in terms of manufacturing and electrical and electronics (E&E) with over 50 years of industrial excellence and leadership. To date, it has attracted more than 20 Chinese companies and firms to the “Pearl of the Orient”. With vast business ecosystems and active participation in the global supply chain, Chinese companies and firms such as Jinko Solar Technology, XFusion, INV New Material Technology, Fastrain, and Phabritek have chosen Penang as its ideal spot to house their facilities and connect with the greater Southeast Asian market.

在我的领导下，槟城不仅在维持两国之间的双边关系方面发挥了逐渐增强的作用，同时也成为开拓新领域桥梁的焦点。槟城被誉为“东方硅谷”，在制造业和电子电气（E&E）领域是地区的重要中心，拥有超过50年的工业卓越和领导地位。截至目前，已有20多家中国企业和公司入驻这个“东方之珠”。凭借庞大的商业生态系统和积极参与全球供应链，诸如晶科能源科技、XFusion、INV新材料科技、Fastrain和泛太科技等中国企业选择槟城作为他们设立设施并与更大的东南亚市场联系的理想地点。

Aside from that, Penang as an ideal tourist destination, known for its gastronomic pleasures, scenic spots, and attractions in the country, has seen more than 13,000 Chinese visitors through Penang International Airport (PIA) last year. Resumption of Xiamen Airline flights from Penang to Xiamen vice versa and Malaysia’s Visa-Free policy to Chinese Visitors has further enhanced Malaysia-China connectivity through Penang. Not to forget also, my official visit to Xiamen in September 2023 in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Xiamen-Penang Sister City relationship. As a result, this has demonstrated Penang’s emphasis on People-to-People (P2P) ties as the epicenter of our two nations relationship and exchanges.

除此之外，槟城作为一个理想的旅游目的地，以其美食、风景名胜而闻名。去年，通过槟城国际机场（PIA）接待了超过13,000名中国游客。厦门航空恢复了槟城往返厦门的航班，马来西亚对中国游客实行的免签政策进一步增强了马来西亚与中国之间通过槟城的连接。另外，值得一提的是，我于2023年9月访问厦门，以纪念厦门与槟城结为友好城市关系30周年。这彰显了槟城将人民间联系视为两国关系和交流的核心。

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,

尊敬的元首伉俪、女士们、先生们，

As we welcome the year of the dragon, we look forward to both an auspicious and extraordinary year that is paralleled with strength, good fortune, and excellence. This year, particularly 31st May 2024, will also mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China.

在迎来龙年之际，我们期待着一个充满力量、好运和卓越的吉祥之年。2024年，特别是5月31日，将迎来马来西亚与中华人民共和国建交50周年。

Therefore, I am hopeful and confident that Malaysian-China ties will remain untested and resilient throughout 2024. Given that the Consulate-General of China in Penang remains active in exchanges and cooperation with Malaysia’s northern region states, I am utmost certain that H.E Zhou will double down in maintaining a constructive and interactive engagements with us in the years to come. With that, I also look forward to more Chinese-funded enterprises and investments into Malaysia’s northern states with the assistance of the Consulate-General in Penang.

因此，我对马中关系在2024年将持续稳固和坚韧充满了希望和信心。鉴于中国驻槟城总领馆仍然积极与马来西亚北部地区州属开展交流与合作，我非常确信周总将在未来几年内加倍努力与我们保持建设性的互动接触。我也期待更多中资企业在驻槟城总领馆的协助下，走进马来西亚北部各州。

Together, let us embrace the spirit of the Chinese New Year, a time for reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to building bridges of understanding and friendship. May the Year of the dragon bring prosperity, good health, and joy to all of us.

让我们共同迎接春节的到来，这是一个反思、感恩并重新承诺建立理解与友谊桥梁的时刻。愿龙年给我们带来繁荣、健康与喜悦。

Xin Nian Kuai Le! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

新年快乐！恭喜发财！

Thank you.

谢谢！