Malaysia should promote service industry to China

The Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA), one of the component parties of the country's federal ruling coalition, suggested that the Malaysian government should promote service industry to China.

Its president Chua Soi Lek told a press conference here on Wednesday that there is vast potential in Malaysia's service industry, including tourism, education and medical tourism.

Investors from China should tap into these areas, said Chua, adding that these sectors enjoyed great growth potential given the country's strategic position.

Citing medical tourism as an example, Chua said Malaysia had good weather that is good for patients' recuperation, unlike certain parts of China that could be extremely cold.

Earlier, Chua received the new Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Chai Xi at the party's headquarters here.

He also noted that the bilateral trade between China and Malaysia had surged by 82.1 percent in the first five months of 2010 to record 19.1 billion U.S. dollars.

He hoped that both nations would make full advantage of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement that came into full implementation on Jan. 1 this year to boost bilateral trade.