Connectivity in Belt and Road Initiative to help grow Malaysian economy: PM

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing is an important agenda in making sure his country can enjoy the fruit of the initiative.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. [File photo: News.cn]

The Belt and Road Initiative will increase economy through more comprehensive connectivity, said Najib, who will leave for Beijing on Friday to attend the forum held on Sunday and Monday.

In an article posted on his personal website, najibrazak.com, Najib highlighted the advantages of Malaysia by participating in the initiative, saying the strategic location of Malaysia has offered the country an advantage to play an important role in the initiative and that he believed "our people will receive benefits in terms of holistic connectivity as well as local economic growth."

Recalling his latest visit to China last November, Najib said his visit back then had successfully brought the bilateral relations closer. 

In the signed article, Najib said the Digital Free Trade Zone project, which was initiated jointly by Najib and Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba group, in March, will become the first digital economic hub outside China and is expected to create 60,000 jobs.

"Our small and medium enterprises will have the opportunities with greater access to the foreign markets and hence increase business opportunities," he said.