KUALA LUMPUR: China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee chairman Zhao Leji began his three-day official visit to Malaysia by paying a courtesy call on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul at Parliament today.
Zhao and his delegation arrived at the Parliament at around 10.30 am before joining Johari and the Malaysian parliamentarians for a bilateral meeting, which lasted almost an hour.
Also present were Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Alice Lau Kiong Yieng and several Members of Parliament namely Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang) and Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (Tebrau).
Speaking to reporters later, Johari said among the issues raised during the meeting were bilateral trades and China’s commitment to cooperation on agricultural technology sharing through Malaysian students studying in China universities.
“Food security is very important and we do hope we will not face the same (food supply) issue just like the time when the crises in Europe affected us in Asia.
“If there were active cooperation with China and Asean countries, we will have not just the technology, but also labour and money to strengthen our ties as the people of Asia who do not depend on Europe for food,” he said.
Zhao and his delegation are scheduled to meet with Senate President Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim later today.
While in Malaysia, Zhao is also scheduled to have an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He will also travel to Melaka, which includes visits to Jonker Walk, Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum and Melaka Strait before departing to Beijing on Saturday. – BERNAMA
