Qinzhou, China and Kuantan, Malaysia are 1,225 nautical miles apart. The two "sister gardens" connect the common dreams of two cities and two countries.
"The Sino-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China-Kuntan Industrial Park have been launched one after another, setting a precedent for China and ASEAN countries to establish national-level industrial parks." In 2013, President Xi Jinping said in a joint interview with Indonesian and Malaysian media.
A view of Kuantan Port. (Photo by Yang Yi, reporter of People's Daily)
That year, the east coast of Malaysia welcomed the official opening of the Malaysian Zhongkuantan Industrial Park, the first national industrial park established by China in Malaysia. The previous year, the Zhongma Qinzhou Industrial Park located on the banks of the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi took the lead in sailing.
"We must connect with our respective development strategies and build Qinzhou and Kuantan Industrial Parks into China-Malaysia cooperation flagship projects and China-ASEAN cooperation demonstration zones";
"We must make the 'two countries and two parks' bigger and stronger, make it an important node of the 'new land-sea channel', and promote the connectivity and development of the two countries and regions";
"The two sides must strengthen the docking of development strategies, deepen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to promote the high-quality joint construction of the 'Belt and Road', and jointly implement flagship projects such as the 'two countries and two parks'";
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President Xi Jinping has always been concerned about and promoted the construction and development of the 'two countries and two parks'.
After twelve years of spring and autumn, the appearance of "two countries and two gardens" has changed with each other, the industrial system has been improved day by day, and the flowers of friendship have bloomed together. Relying on each other's natural endowments, industrial advantages and market resources, it has set a model of innovative economic cooperation between the two countries.
Walking into the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park, modern factories are lined up one after another, landmark projects such as the China-Malaysia International Science and Technology Park, Bird's Nest Processing Trade Base, and Sichuan-Guangdong International Production Capacity Cooperation Industrial Park have emerged.
In the designated port inspection area for imported hairy swallows, a batch of hairy swallows imported from Malaysia were transported to multiple factories in the park's bird's nest processing trade base after passing the inspection by customs personnel for standardized processing.
In recent years, special agricultural products such as bird's nest, durian, and coffee from Malaysia have frequently appeared in large exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo and the China-ASEAN Expo. Many of these products have accelerated their entry into thousands of households in China through the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park platform.
As of the end of last year, the first phase of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park has signed and settled projects, with a total industrial output value of RMB 106 billion, a total foreign trade import and export volume of RMB 45.14 billion, and an actual use of foreign capital of approximately US$822 million.
Staff are working in the joint steel production workshop in the Malaysian Kuantan Industrial Park. (Photo by Yang Yi, reporter of People's Daily)
In Kuantan across the sea, the first phase of the United Steel Project with an annual production capacity of more than 3.5 million tons was the first to settle in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park. The project was officially put into full production in June 2019. It is one of the largest and most advanced full-process steel companies in Malaysia, and its products are sold globally.
"United Steel has made the development of Malaysia's steel industry a qualitative leap, completing the transformation from an "importing country" to an "exporting country"." Hu Jiulin, deputy general manager of United Steel (Malaysia) Group Corporation, said that at present, the second phase project is also under construction.
The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has a planned area of 14 square kilometers, and has developed about 10 square kilometers. It has signed 15 projects, covering steel, tires, papermaking, automobile parts manufacturing, food processing and other industries. The cumulative total industrial output value exceeds 100 billion yuan.
In Plot 3 of the Park, the Malaysia-Zhongguantan International Logistics Park is under construction. Relying on the two important infrastructures of Kuantan Port and East Coast Railway, the linkage model of coordinated development of "harbor-rail-park" will be gradually formed here to further promote the economic and social development of Malaysia's east coast region.
"When talking about Kuantan, people will say that there is an industrial park built by Malaysia and China in cooperation." Kelly, head of the Labor Relations Group of the United Steel Enterprise Management Department, said, "The arrival of the industrial park not only increases the popularity of Kuantan, but also increases the salary level here." Now, being able to work in an industrial park has become the preferred choice for young people in eastern states such as Pahang and Terengganu.
The "Two Countries and Two Parks" is a vivid footnote to China and Malaysia's high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road".
"China is willing to carry forward the fine traditions with Malaysia, be close neighbors with generations, sincere partners for development, close friends who are brothers and sisters, and an important force in promoting peace. We will deepen strategic cooperation in the journey of their respective modernization development, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Malaysia to a new level." In September 2024, President Xi Jinping's words during talks with Malaysia's Supreme Head of State Ibrahim expressed the profound connotation of China-Malaysia relations and his beautiful expectations for bilateral relations.
The "Durian Flight" shuttles back and forth every week. Chinese enterprises help Malaysia's "national car" rejuvenate new opportunities, and cross-border mobile payments are accelerated and upgraded... China, which comprehensively promotes the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization, is deeply connected and working together in the process of their respective modernization development.
Standing at the intersection of the new era, China and Malaysia will continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and move forward steadily on the road to building a community with a shared future.
Planning: Tian Junrong, Ma Xiaoning
Coordination: Guan Kejiang, Yang Xuebo, Chen Zhenkai, Pei Guangjiang, Wang Xinping
Coordination: Li Xiang, Liang Changjie, Li Yang
Text: Yu Yichun, Yang Yi, Liu Hui, Li Xinyi
Editor: Ma Yuan, Han Wenyan
Proofreading: Wu Yue
Editor in charge: Han Wenyan
