The 2025 CIFTIS Malaysia Overseas Roadshow was hosted by the Beijing International Trade in Services Center and co-organized by Beijing Capital Group Exhibitions & Events Co., Ltd. (BCGEE) and the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), with strong support from Bank of China (Malaysia) and Messe Global. Attendees included representatives from government departments, business leaders, and industry elites from both countries, alongside delegates from Malaysian societies, associations and institutions such as the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Malaysia Chinese Commerce Association (FEMACCA), the SME Association of Malaysia, the Malaysia Pioneer Entrepreneurs Association, and the Asia Innovation Research Hub. In addition, senior executives from leading Chinese-funded enterprises in Malaysia, including Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International (Malaysia), HONOR Malaysia, and Bank of China (Malaysia), also participated. He Qionghua, senior director of CIFTIS Center of Beijing Capital Group Exhibitions & Events, chaired the event.
Unbreakable Bond: A New Chapter for China-Malaysia Services Trade
On behalf of the CIFTIS, Yin Liang, deputy director of the Beijing International Trade in Services Center, delivered a speech, introducing details of the upcoming 2025 CIFTIS to be held in Beijing this September and extending a sincere invitation to services trade enterprises from Malaysia and around the world. He noted that China and Malaysia enjoy an unbreakable bond, as captured by the Malay proverb, "air dicincang tidak akan putus," or "water can't be cut apart." In 2024, China-Malaysia trade reached US$212 billion. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Both sides, he emphasized, should actively utilize the CIFTIS platform to jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains, with a focus on the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, so as to advance the modernization of both countries.
CIFTIS in Malaysia: A Major Boost to Services Trade Growth
In his speech, Dato' Sri Dr. Haji Irmohizam bin Haji Ibrahim, group managing director of WTCKL, expressed gratitude for CIFTIS' efforts in promoting China-Malaysia services trade cooperation, which has provided significant momentum for Malaysia's services industry, particularly in MICE, AI and digital services, and cultural exchanges. WTCKL expresses strong confidence in its collaboration with CIFTIS and looks forward to establishing more joint ventures, driving innovation, and attaining shared prosperity in the services sector.
Digital Future, Connected Nations: Trends and Opportunities
The keynote speech session, themed "Digital Future, Connected Nations," featured insights from senior representatives of authoritative associations and leading Chinese-funded enterprises in Malaysia. Notable speakers included Tay Wee Huat, secretary general of FEMACCA; Chin Chee Seong, national president of SME Association of Malaysia; Kun Huang, general manager (Malaysia) of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International; Hu Renyi, product GTM director of HONOR Malaysia; and Phelicia Ding , general manager of Corp. Banking Dept., Bank of China (Malaysia). They shared experience and insights in AI-driven digital transformation, intelligent manufacturing, digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, and other fields.
Tay Wee Huat, secretary general of FEMACCA, delivered a speech titled "Accelerating Digital Future for China-Malaysia Partnership." He proposed that China and Malaysia should deepen cooperation in digital trade traceability, leveraging technological interconnectivity and data sharing to enable full-chain visibility for cross-border goods. By jointly building platforms and sharing standards, the two sides can boost transparent trade practices, facilitate industrial chain coordination and enhance market trust.
Chin Chee Seong, national president of SME Association of Malaysia, spoke on the theme of "Unlocking SME Potential: Digital Transformation." He mentioned that "Malaysia's high-tech SMEs are on a strong upward trajectory, reflecting the country's dynamic momentum in innovation and technology. In this context, the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) offers an unparalleled opportunity for Malaysian tech-driven SMEs to build meaningful partnerships with Chinese technology enterprises. By tapping into this strategic trade platform, both sides can foster deep collaboration—especially in the field of artificial intelligence—to drive mutual growth through shared knowledge and practical innovation. This is a golden window of opportunity that forward-looking SMEs cannot afford to miss."
Kun Huang, general manager (Malaysia) of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International, General Manager of Malaysia, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence delivered an insightful briefing on how he has led the Alibaba Cloud Malaysia team to execute its "In Malaysia For Malaysia" strategy to grow the Malaysian digital ecosystem with key stakeholders including the public sector, business community, and academia. He described the event as an important platform to strengthen the linkages between all stakeholders, and to build long-term partnerships in our region. Such exchanges will be useful to deepen business collaboration and showcase Alibaba Cloud's leading advanced technology.
Hu Renyi, product GTM director of HONOR Malaysia, presented HONOR's Alpha Plan to transform from a smartphone maker into a global leader in AI-powered smart devices. He demonstrated HONOR's positioning as a mid-to-high-end all-scenario tech brand in the Malaysian market, highlighting numerous technological innovations. He also announced HONOR's commitment to work with global partners to invest over US$10 billion in building an AI device ecosystem.
Phelicia Ding, general manager of Corp. Banking Dept., Bank of China (Malaysia), noted that as the exclusive "Global Partner" in the banking sector for CIFTIS, the Bank of China (BOC) has provided comprehensive and diversified financial services to support the event's success for four consecutive years. As China's primary bank for foreign trade finance, the BOC consistently delivers high-quality services to facilitate high-standard opening-up. The bank leverages its global resources and integrated advantages—particularly its expertise in international settlements, cross-border RMB transactions, and foreign exchange settlement and sale—to offer high-level financial solutions for exhibitors and buyers worldwide, facilitating the two-way interaction between China and the rest of the world.
The event was not only a meeting of minds but also an opportunity for collaboration. The distinguished speakers delivered thought-provoking presentations, enabling participants to gain in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge technologies, assimilate best practices from successful cases, and engage in face-to-face networking with industry experts to explore business opportunities.
Cooperation and Prospects
Amidst the accelerating global digital wave, China and Malaysia are presented with new historic opportunities for cooperation in trade in services, particularly in digital trade in services. The success of the 2025 CIFTIS Malaysia Overseas Roadshow has established a premium platform for bilateral exchanges and cooperation, which will not only advance services trade development but also unlock collaborative potential across broader sectors for the two countries.
Both sides have pledged to strengthen cooperation in areas such as AI, digital economy, and trade in services, jointly exploring the infinite possibilities of a digital future and creating a brighter tomorrow for China-Malaysia services trade.
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