GEORGE TOWN (Feb 5): Penang’s long-standing economic partnership with China continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the state’s industrial ecosystem, with Chinese investments reaching nearly RM16 billion over the past decade. He said Penang remains a major contributor to Malaysia-China trade, accounting for RM143 billion of Malaysia’s RM255 billion exports to China from January to November 2025. He noted that economic and trade cooperation between both sides has continued to deepen, with a growing number of Chinese enterprises investing and operating in northern Malaysia. On people-to-people exchanges, he said connectivity between Penang and China has improved significantly, with nearly 70 weekly flights linking Penang to multiple Chinese cities, facilitating greater movement of tourists, business travellers and students. Zhou added that more than 200,000 Chinese citizens visited Penang via international flights in 2025, alongside an increase in cultural and educational exchanges, which have further strengthened mutual understanding and people-to-people ties between China and northern Malaysia.

Source: The Edge Markets February 05, 2026 14:08 UTC