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INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

that, H.E. also managed to address questions on U.S. visions with regards to the QUAD formation, the way forward
of the U.S. with their efforts in addressing climate change initiatives, and inclination towards Asia. Finally, H.E.
concluded the lecture by emphasising that the current Biden administration is more inclined towards maintaining
current policies and programmes that have demonstrated continued progress in all areas.

Economic Diplomacy Series 1/2021 measures. As highlighted by H.E., Chinese online sellers
and customers have succeeded in taking advantage
The Economic Diplomacy Series (EDS) 1/2021 titled of the situation to market their products through live
‘Malaysia – China Economic Relations: Opportunities streaming and other online business platforms. Having
and Challenges’ was conducted on 7 July 2021 with said that, H.E. also suggested branding, design, and
Malaysian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of innovation to be utilised by Malaysian businesses,
China, H.E. Raja Dato’ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, as the together with the help of digitalisation in elevating the
guest speaker. The virtual lecture was participated value chain.
by 176 participants from various embassies and high
commissions, together with officials from relevant Questions asked during the Q&A sessions included
ministries, government agencies, think tanks, and the bilateral development of Malaysia - China under
higher learning institutions. the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strategy, the
impact of the ratification of Regional Comprehensive
H.E. began the session by describing the nature of Economic Partnership (RCEP) towards Malaysian
Malaysia-China bilateral ties in which he said was enterprises and SMEs, and the extent of China’s state-
first built on trade and economic principles. The good owned enterprises’ contribution to the nation’s agenda
relationship between Malaysia and China extended for an open economy, among other things. The lecture
to the matter of vaccination following the COVID-19 concluded with the emphasis that Malaysia and China
pandemic, as Malaysia was the first country to sign have extensive bilateral relations that benefit both
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on post- countries and are expected to continue in the coming
pandemic measures and secured a reciprocal vaccine years.
arrangement with China.
Economic Diplomacy Series 2/2021
The pandemic has affected countless economies thus
solutions need to be made to curb its repercussions. Held on 10 November 2021 via online, the Economic
H.E. Raja Dato’ Nurshirwan addressed this issue and Diplomacy Series 2/2021 was an informative session
noted that due to the closing of borders and halt in focusing on the topic of The Malaysia Digital Economy
mobilisation, economies must improve their operational Blueprint and the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030
efficiency and resiliency to offset the decreasing supply presented by Senior Vice President of Investment and
chains. H.E. discussed how China and the U.S. planned Brand from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation
to enhance their technological reliance by which China (MDEC), Mr Raymond Siva.
must be able to design and manufacture semiconductor
machines, while the U.S. must reacquire the lost The Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint is included
skills when the semiconductor industry was relocated in the MYDIGITAL initiative, a three-phase initiative
elsewhere. set to be implemented until 2030 that corresponds
In addition, digital marketing and e-commerce have with the national development policies and the Vision
risen remarkably following the COVID-19 lockdown for Shared Prosperity 2030 (Wawasan Kemakmuran

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