Malaysia is actively taking advantages of the Belt and Road Initiative which will provide the Southeast Asian country with great access to trade and global market, a senior official said Friday.
In an article published on the local Star newspaper, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Malaysia is taking part in the joint effort to revive the ancient silk road, which "not only marked the first steps of globalization, but also a vast sharing and appreciation of culture, arts and beliefs between the East and the West."
The Belt and Road Initiative would reshape global trade through massive infrastructure development, Liow said.
He said the initiative will give Malaysia "a tremendous advantage" in the growing global competitive market.
"I am proud to say that Malaysia is already in the process of taking advantage of this initiative," he said.
One of the key projects the Malaysian government is participating in is the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, one of Southeast Asia's flagship projects for greater connectivity by connecting China's Yunnan province to Singapore via Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
"For Malaysia, the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link is seen to open up local businesses to more opportunities for trade, investment, economic growth and jobs. This is one of the key drivers for our very own High Speed Rail project that will connect Malaysia to Singapore, and vice versa," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is also working on a mega project of Melaka Gateway at the ancient entrepot of Malacca. The project consist a deep sea port as well as residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and lifestyle elements.
Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak will attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held from May 14 to 15 in Beijing, together with other foreign leaders.
Liow said Malaysia must take an optimistic approach and understand future strategic benefits of implementing the Belt and Road Initiative.
