Malaysia set to host ‘One Belt, One Road’ global leadership summit come October

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — As Malaysia and China celebrate nearly half a century of formal diplomatic relations, the Multinational Corporation Leadership Summit 2023 will be held here in October to foster new partnership opportunities between the two countries and beyond

Following a brief hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and two years in the making, the summit organised by the One Belt One Road Economic Friendship Association (OBOR) will take place at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre on October 21 this year.

OBOR secretary-general KP Chiew said the summit would allow participants to connect for economic opportunities and more, by tapping into Malaysia’s potential as a culturally-diversified country situated in a geographically advantageous region.

“Through the interaction and networking of participants in the summit, I hope to bring out the best of Malaysia.

“So, let’s look at Malaysia, what is our core competency? What is our advantage? How do we become a very competitive country by looking at our resources?

“If we can provide the opportunity in that there is something good, we can show (the world), then Malaysia is in a good position to re-enter the international arena as global citizens following the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told Malay Mail in an interview here.

Chiew said the summit was also being held at an auspicious time for the two countries’ ties, which would reach the half-century point next year. Malaysia formalised diplomatic relations with China in 1974.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to promote economic development and inter-regional connectivity with the Chinese mainland via major infrastructure investments.

It is considered a centrepiece of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, with over 151 countries across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe having signed up to the BRI as of January this year.

In Malaysia, the ambitious East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) linking the east and west coasts of the Malaysian peninsula is considered the flagship project of the BRI here.

Aside from the key opening ceremony in October, Chiew said the summit also boasts three separate conference sessions, namely the High Technology and Innovation Dialogue; the Life Science and Big Data Dialogue; and the Smart City Dialogue whose panelists comprised field-related experts and government officials.

As attendance is strictly by invitation, Chiew said the line-up of distinguished guests included ambassadors, former dignitaries, government officials, academics, as well as industry and business leaders from various countries within the Asean and the South Asian region.

“As our association’s slogan puts it, ‘sharing the power of connectivity’, this summit will allow everyone to connect with each other and leaders from both Malaysia and China can definitely benefit from the networking between invited participants on this scale to tap into resources here and in the Asean region.

“It is a good opportunity and timing for us to really expand as Malaysia enters its 50th year of the bilateral relationship with China next year,” he said.