系列专题:《亚洲财富论坛》2008年6月刊
文/本刊记者 孙永剑
早在600年前的明朝永乐年间,三宝太监郑和率领庞大船队七下西洋,遍访南亚诸国,与当地人民结下深厚友谊,并将这种友谊的纽带传递到中东、非洲。600年过去了,今天的南亚各国人民当中仍流传着许多有关郑和下西洋的佳话。如果用一个在今天很时髦的词汇来概括这传递了600年的友谊,那就是“共赢”。合作中谋求共赢,已当仁不让地成为国际交往的主流。
《亚洲财富论坛》记者日前采访了马来西亚驻华特命全权大使赛义德·诺尔扎曼,他满怀憧憬地说:“我们不仅要传承自1409年郑和船队第三次下西洋访问马来西亚以来600年的友谊,我们还将在互利共赢的原则基础上,共谋发展路。”
传承600年的友谊
《亚洲财富论坛》:600年前,明朝郑和率领船队下西洋时,曾经到访马来西亚,堪称中马两国友谊的先驱。
赛义德·诺尔扎曼:马来西亚是东盟国家里最早与中华人民共和国建交的国家之一。600年前郑和率领船队下西洋是一个很了不起的壮举,有着十分特殊的意义。与历史上的海盗和侵略者不同,郑和率领的船队来到马来半岛时没有携带任何武器,也没有任何敌意,他们是来传递友谊的。600年过去了,两国之间的友谊日臻成熟。1974年马中两国建立外交关系。从那时起,两国在政治、经济、文化、外交等等许多领域开展了广泛的、积极的合作。更可贵的是,两国领导人相互理解,相互尊重。我们两国有着共同的或者相似的历史遭遇,也就有共同的奋斗目标,在许多国际问题上加强合作,所以说,两国之间合作的基石是十分牢固可靠的。
中国人是早期开发马来西亚的重要力量,100多年前,大量华人到南洋打工,为当地经济发展做出了积极的贡献。如今,华人已融入当地社会,又由于华人与中国文化的渊源,他们对促进中国在当地的投资和贸易的发展做出了积极的贡献。
《亚洲财富论坛》:为了加强两国人民的传统友谊和相互了解,贵国政府、贵使馆进行了哪些务实有益的工作?
赛义德·诺尔扎曼:我们正致力于让更多的中国人越来越多地了解马来西亚,为此,我们正在大量举办展览、贸易洽谈会等等活动。我们邀请两国的中小企业参加这样的展览和洽谈会,这些展览和洽谈会涉及很多领域,比如IT、农业、旅游等等,比如在首都吉隆坡举行的工业机械展览等等,吸引了大量中国企业前往。通过这样的活动,我们加深了两国企业之间的相互了解,而且开发了更多的贸易机会。
同时,马来西亚政府正在采取积极措施,鼓励本国商人到中国投资,尤其是到中国的西部以及二线城市。其中,不仅有我国的商人,甚至也包括政府部门,我们鼓励他们与中国领导人进行磋商洽谈,深入到省市地方与省长、市长洽谈,并定期举行双方领导人互访。
为了加强与中国的商务合作,我国与中国贸促会(CCPIT)在许多领域开展了广泛的贸易合作,我们之间的关系是十分密切的。今年6月,我国贸易工业部部长将访华,将访问CCPIT。CCPIT也在许多方面给予我们十分积极的帮助。与CCPIT相对应,在马来西亚也设立了马中贸易委员会,为促进两国贸易发挥着重要的作用。
加强合作,期待更大共赢
《亚洲财富论坛》:良好的国家关系往往表现在经贸领域的合作共赢。请您简要阐述中马两国的经贸关系。
赛义德·诺尔扎曼:马来西亚是中国的第八大贸易伙伴,同时也是中国在东盟国家里的第二大贸易伙伴,双边贸易额达到470亿美元。两国总理曾提出到2010年双边贸易额达到500亿美元的奋斗目标,目前看来会提前实现。
投资领域的合作也取得了可喜的进步,许多马来西亚公司来到中国投资制造业、房地产业、公共事业领域比如水处理等等。2007年,马来西亚在华投资总额达到4.5亿美元,成为中国的第十六大投资贸易伙伴,而且还有望继续增长。中国市场充满机遇,中国的服务业、绿色产业、环保产业等等有着巨大的潜力,而这些领域也恰恰是我们在中国有许多强项。
旅游业是马中两国的重要产业,两国间的旅游业也在迅猛发展。对于中国旅游者来说,马来西亚是一个理想的旅游胜地,旅游人数与日俱增,2007年到访马来西亚的中国旅游者达到69万人次,与2006年相比增幅高达59%。这是很了不起的进步。而且,这个数字还有望继续增长,因为随着经济的发展和人民日益富裕,中国人民出国旅游的愿望愈来愈强烈,同时,马来西亚也在中国开展大量宣传活动,欢迎中国旅游者前往。事实上,到中国旅游观光的马来西亚游客人数大大超过中国到马来西亚旅游的游客,去年已达到100万人次。
《亚洲财富论坛》:当前,两国在哪些领域有具体的项目合作?这些项目将带来哪些商机?
赛义德·诺尔扎曼:在过去的两三年,马中两国在至少两个项目上进行了合作,这两个项目的实施有利于加强马中两国之间的互利合作。第一个项目是在能源领域开展合作。经我国政府批准,马来西亚国家石油公司已经向上海提供天然气。另一个项目是在建筑业展开合作。中国在建筑业具有巨大潜力和发展优势,其技术先进,价格低廉且有很强的竞争力。我们已经与中国公司达成协议,共同在马来西亚西部沿海的Penang岛修建桥梁,使其与大陆相连,中国进出口银行为该项目提供了资金支持。
中国是最大的发展中国家,在绿色产业、环保产业、高技术等诸多领域需要得到资金支持,同时,中国正在实施西部大开发战略,并且还在努力推动二线城市的发展,以上都是马来西亚投资者关注的领域。为此,我们加强了对这些领域的访问和调查研究。我们今年计划邀请我国贸易与工业部部长到成都访问,并参加在那里举行的研讨会以及大型会议,以此来了解更多的投资贸易机会。显然,中国的服务业是具有强大潜力的,并且是可以吸引马来西亚公司投资的。
同时,马来西亚也有许多投资和贸易机会值得中国公司关注,中国政府正鼓励中国公司走出去,而马来西亚的发展也为中国公司提供了巨大的机遇。马来西亚的新经济区就是很好的机遇,那里需要进行大规模基础设施建设,以及发展物流业、服务业等等。
另外,还有一个蕴含巨大潜力的合作领域。马来西亚公司邀请中国公司到第三国成立合资公司,共同开发投资贸易机会,比如到非洲、中东以及伊斯兰国家进行投资。通过这样的合作,我们的潜力得到了最大限度的发挥。作为伊斯兰国家,马来西亚在中东地区有十分强大的网络,许多马来西亚公司都希望与伊斯兰国家的公司加强合作。
Win-Win for 6 Centuries, Friendship is Going on
——Interview with H.E. Dato’ Syed Norulzaman,Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia
By Sun Yongjian
600 years ago in China’s Ming Dynasty, Minister Zheng He and his fleet traveled across the ocean to South Asia, marking the beginning of friendship between China and South Asian countries. After 600 years, today, the people in South Asian countries are still giving high praise to Zheng He and his remarkable mission. Only one word is to represent the 600 years’ friendship, “Win-Win”.
Cooperation and Win-Win are mainstreams of today’s international collaboration. Interviewed by Asia Fortune Forum magazine in April, H.E. Dato’ Syed Norulzaman, Ambassador of Malaysia gave a retrospect to the 600-year friendship in a deep emotion. As for the prospect of the future cooperation, Mr. Ambassador said: “We very appreciate the friendship of over 600 years since Minister Zheng He and his fleet traveled across the ocean to Malaysia in 1409, meanwhile, we will facilitate our friendship and cooperation on the principle of mutual benefits and Win-Win.”
600-year friendship is going on
Asia Fortune Forum: Over 600 years ago, Minister Zheng He headed a fleet to travel across the ocean to South Asia and paid a pioneer visit to Malaysia. Would you give a brief retrospect of the friendship between our two countries?
Dato’ Syed Norulzaman: Over 600 years ago, Minister Zheng He traveled across the ocean to South Asia countries and paid a pioneer visit to Malaysia. Quite different from the previous invaders and pirates, Zheng He and his fleet came to Malaysia with no arms and hostility. They came here for the mission of delivering friendship. After 600 years, today, the bilateral friendship has developed to a new stage. In 1974, Malaysia and China established diplomatic relations, since then, both sides have developed extensive and active cooperation in many spheres such as politics, economics, culture and diplomacy, etc. More remarkable is the time-honored mutual understanding and respect between the government leaders of both sides. Malaysia and China share the same or similar historical experiences, and hence to strive for the same targets and consolidate cooperation in many international issues.
Asia Fortune Forum: Win-win cooperation is a significant symbol of the sound relations between countries. Would you give us your comments on the development of the bilateral economic and trade relations between China and Malaysia?
Dato’ Syed Norulzaman: Malaysia is the eighth largest trade partner of China, and the second largest trade partner in ASEAN countries, the bilateral trade has reached US$47 billion. Hence, the goal proposed by Malaysian Prime Minster and Chinese Premier that in 2010 the bilateral trade reaches US$50 billion is expected to be reached ahead of time.
The investment has witnessed remarkable progress. Quite a lot of Malaysian companies have come to China to make investment in manufactures, real estates, public careers such as sewage treatment, etc. In 2007, Malaysian investment in China amounted to US$450 million, making Malaysia the sixteenth largest investment trade partner of China, and is expected to be increased. China has abundant opportunities and great market potential, especially in service industry, green industry and environmental protection industry, in which Malaysia is very strong as well.
Asia Fortune Forum: Are there any projects being conducted? What business opportunities eyed?
Dato’ Syed Norulzaman: Over the past 2 or 3 years, Malaysia and China have conducted cooperation on at least two projects, on is in energy sphere, sanctioned by Malaysian Government, Malaysia National Petrol Company has supplied natural gas to Shanghai; the other is Malaysia and China has signed an agreement to build a bridge at the western coastal line of Malaysia which will connect the Penang island to the mainland.
One more opportunity of business cooperation with vast potential is Malaysian companies will invite Chinese companies to establish joint ventures in the third part so as to develop business opportunities, for instance, in Africa, Middle East, etc. As an Islamic country, Malaysia has developed vast business networks in Middle East, and is ready to help China to consolidate cooperation with the Islamic countries.