17 October 2010 Last updated at 00:04 GMT

The kinship and cultural relations between Malaysia and China promote the Chinese Malaysians’ being pioneering in Malaysia-China economic and trade relations

On 04 Oct 2010, Xiao Wunan, Executive Vice Chairman of APECF, visited Malaysia with his delegation. Xiao expressed gratitude for the irreplaceable roles that Chinese Malaysians had played in maintaining bilateral relations and acted as the backbone force to deepen and broaden their relations.

Xiao said Chinese Malaysians have a natural and cultural kinship with the Chinese mainland, and they should play a key role in maintaining bilateral economic and trade relations.

"Chinese Malaysians are pioneers in promoting Sino-Malaysian relations. They bring friendship to Malaysian ethnic groups, deepen exchanges, and spread Chinese culture. Their Chinese language advantages can serve as the medium to bridge the gap between the two peoples, and make up for the less frequent visits of other ethnic groups of Malaysia to the Chinese mainland."

Xiao and his delegation members Paras, Co-Chairman and Wang Boxin, Vice Chairman, visited the Sin Chew Daily at Petalling Jaya Agency. They held discussions about bilateral relations and the role that Chinese Malaysian play in the relations.

Xiao received a warm welcome from Sir Tiong Hiew King, Executive Chairman of Rimbunan Hijau Group; Xiao Yizhao, Editor-in-chief of Xingzhou Group; Chen Jinquan, Corporate Public Relations Manager and Senior Manager of Business Promotion Department of Sin Chew Daily; Liu Kunsheng, Manager of Public Liaison Department, and other senior leaders. They held in-depth discussions.

The competitiveness of Chinese enterprises needs further improvement

Xiao indicated that SME (small & medium enterprise) in Malaysia enjoyed great advantages in technological innovation and technical progress. However, Chinese SMEs account for the largest proportion among Chinese enterprises. They could draw on the advantage of Malaysia to improve technological innovation and technical progress and upgrade the management level and quality.

He said that Malaysian SMEs were within the framework of market economy and enjoyed great potential for market development and capital market development when doing business in the Southeast Asian market.

"The goal of China is to increase income and improve the social security system. This has expanded domestic demand and also proved a precious opportunity to world. The increase of needs in the market also calls for higher quality products. “The competitiveness of Chinese enterprises needs to be improved. There is still a lot of room for improvement in terms of technological innovation, product quality and technical design."

Cultural diversity is the basis for peace

Xiao indicated that the preservation of cultural diversity is the solid foundation for world peace. People of all ethnic groups and religions should show mutual respect for each other’s cultures.

He also pointed out that economic globalization became an important theme of the world in the past 20 years. It served as the catalyst for the speedy world economic development, scientific and technological progress and daily trade war. Even the financial crisis emerged from this background.

"The fact is that economic globalization goes hand in hand with the proposition of UNESCO that a balance should be achieved between cultural diversity and economic globalization."

"The preservation of the cultural diversity is important even though we are in the same era using the same technology. World peace is based on cultural diversity, just as the Chinese Malaysian preserve Chinese culture; Malaysians preserve their own culture; and different nationalities keep their respective cultural traditions."

He stressed that as long as people with different religious or cultural backgrounds showed sufficient respect and appreciation to each other, the world would become peaceful.

"I believe that it is the best to treat the cultures of different nationalities on an equal footing."

The Chinese cultural atmosphere in Malaysia is stronger than that in China

Xiao said Malaysia has a stronger Chinese cultural atmosphere than China itself, and it’s moving to see so many Chinese Malaysians starting their business here while utilizing their Chinese culture.

"Given the special historical and social factors, Malaysia has a better preservation of Chinese culture than other Southeast Asian nations. So Chinese Malaysians may assume a special role when China faces a new world in the future."

Chinese Malaysians also played a role during China’s political reform and opening-up for greater social development. In the future, Chinese Malaysians will serve as the bridge between China and the world with their language advantages, international experience, kinship with Chinese and sound understanding of Chinese culture.Besides, Xiao expressed that China’s powerfulness was not only attributable to the Chinese people’s own efforts but also support from all overseas Chinese.He said that during the early periods of the Revolution, Sun Yat-sen received great support and donations from overseas Chinese. In the past century, overseas Chinese had contributed greatly to China’s development and rise. “I want to use the opportunity through Sin Chew Daily to express thanks to Chinese Malaysians and all overseas Chinese. China would not be so powerful today without their long-time devotion and sacrifice.”

Malaysian and Chinese agricultural and mining industries are complementary

Xiao said ASEAN, Southeast Asian and other Asian countries’ economies are complementary with China in areas such as agronomy, agriculture, petroleum and mining.

The economic cooperation between China and ASEAN, South Asia, Northeast Asia has a bright future. China must enhance the regional cooperation with ASEAN, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Northeast Asia against the backdrop of export products under the influence of West European and North American market.

“Since the RMB is moving towards becoming an international currency, China can make the most of this context while promoting investment cooperation in bilateral and multilateral trade with ASEAN, thus dealing with the risks from excessive RMB foreign exchange reserves.”

“Against the backdrop of international competition, it is necessary to promote the rise of an Asian currency in order to change the dominance of a single currency for settlement in the world economic and trade regime. This will be highly important for world balance.”

On China’s economic rise, Mr Xiao said that China had just reached its GDP aggregate amount in economic development with many problems yet to be handled.“There were two aspects: first, to change its development model. The Chinese economy is dependent on the model of investment, consumption, and imports. There is a need to make this model more sustainable; Second, to deal with the relations between economic and social comprehensive development, it is necessary to adopt a Chinese economic development model with high quality that is align with the cost of environment & energy consumption.

APECF sets sight on the establishment of a new Think Tank and cultivates the Asia-Pacific model with the wisdom of elites

Xiao stressed that APECF’s mission was to seek well-being for Asian-Pacific people and contribute to the world peace. It would set up a New Asia Think Tank for pooling together the wisdom of the global elites to create the Asia-Pacific Model.

APECF, formally registered in the form of non-profit foundation in May 2010, was originated from an idea of “economic globalization in Asia” 10 years ago.

Up until July 2008, under the backdrop of China’s rise and leadership of Asia’s economic development, the world will welcome the Asian Century and promotion of the Chinese cultural renaissance and the launch of an Asian currency.

“The global financial crisis has pushed China as the locomotive of world economy. We held a conference in Taipei. The famous scholars from London School of Economics, Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and the United States considered it so necessary to establish APECF. ”

Xiao stressed that foundation was registered and established against this time and background with secretariat offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, and New York.

Improve people’s life through poverty elimination

We hope to bring the comprehensive development for regions through the integration of Asian races, culture and religion in order to find the Asian model for improving people’s life and poverty alleviation.

He also said APECF was unique in that it was established by leaders from different religions, social systems, and fields for the common purpose for peace.

The 5-year Development Plan to be unveiled next year

In addition, Xiao said that APECF would put forward a “5-year development plan” next June. At present, APECF is still soliciting regional advice about “5-year development plan” and has started to promote regional cooperation. For example, the purpose of the foundation’s visit to Malaysia was to engage regional leaders in assisting in the development on economics, society and culture.

He also said that APECF would initiate the Chinese Cultural Research Promotion Conference to be held in Anyang, Henan Province, China this and next year with the purpose of developing culture and soft power. Meanwhile, APECF will hold in Kuala Lumpur a multi-religious group dialogue among leaders from Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism.

“We will make the establishment of the Asia-Pacific New Think Tank as our top priority and further develop our institution, staff training and publicity.”

In addition, he said that APECF would launch a charitable foundation among the Asia-Pacific region that aims to support the issues of the Asia-Pacific region, such as environment, education, ecology and medical treatment.

Prepare to set up a new Think Tank in Singapore

Xiao expressed that the main goal of APECF was to promote the Asia-Pacific regional cooperation by utilizing Asia-Pacific region’s role as a locomotive in the world economy and culture through non-official, cultural, religious means and to create an authentic Asia-Pacific model compatible with the development of the East.

“Second, we plan to set up an Asian New Think Tank in Singapore, pooling together the wisdom of top elites to find the Asian model.”

At the same time, Xiao hoped that APECF could promote the regional and worldwide charities starting from Asia to spread compassion to various Asian countries. Asians should also take on the responsibilities for the development of the whole world and mankind alike.