LINYI (SHANDONG) – Malaysia-China trade relations are gathering strong momentum, with emerging Chinese cities such as Linyi offering Malaysian businesses new opportunities to expand market access, build distribution networks and strengthen supply chain cooperation, says Malaysia’s trade commissioner in China, Niqman Rafaee M. Sahar.
Niqman, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Trade Commissioner and Minister Counsellor (Trade) at the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing, said Linyi’s established wholesale markets, sourcing capabilities and logistics infrastructure made it a valuable gateway for Malaysian companies seeking to reach buyers in Shandong and neighbouring markets.
He was speaking at the 4th Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference, held from October 28 to 30 in Linyi, Shandong province, which has attracted more than 5,000 domestic and international buyers.
A 131-member Malaysian delegation led by Li Xiaoyan, director of the Integrated Media Centre of the Malaysia-China Trade & Economic Advancement Association (MCTEAA), attended the conference.
The delegation comprises representatives from the diplomatic community, media, digital content creators, young scholars and the business sector.
The visit aims to deepen bilateral economic ties, facilitate business-to-business engagement, strengthen supply chain partnerships and identify mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities.
In his address, Niqman highlighted the growing scale of bilateral commerce, with trade between Malaysia and China rising 35.1% year-on-year to RM456.68 billion (approximately US$111.23 billion) between January and August 2026.
Malaysian exports to China grew 23.7% to RM148.56 billion (approximately US$36.18 billion) over the same period.
China remains Malaysia’s largest trading partner, third-largest export destination and largest source of imports, while Malaysia is China’s second-largest trading partner within Asean.
Trade between Malaysia and Shandong reached US$31.9 billion in 2025, making the province Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner among China’s provinces. Shandong is also Malaysia’s largest provincial source of imports, underscoring its importance as a market for Malaysian trade promotion and business engagement.
“As we deepen our presence in China, MATRADE, Malaysia’s national trade promotion organisation, is placing greater emphasis on emerging tier cities and regional commercial centres.”
“Cities such as Linyi offer opportunities to engage new buyers, develop distribution partnerships and reach customers across Shandong – with over 100mil people as well as neighbouring markets.”
Niqman identified electrical and electronics (E&E), advanced manufacturing, green technology, digital services, premium goods and high-value-added industrial products as areas with significant potential for further collaboration.
He also pointed to opportunities in machinery and equipment, chemicals, industrial materials, processed food, halal products, tropical fruit, palm-based products and healthcare products.
“We see potential for greater cooperation in machinery and equipment, chemicals, industrial materials, processed food, halal products, tropical fruit products, palmbased products and healthcare products. Working with capable local partners will be essential to developing these opportunities.”
He said collaboration with established local partners would be important in helping Malaysian companies navigate the market, establish distribution channels and develop sustainable commercial relationships.
Linyi seeks deeper international trade cooperation
Linyi Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor Yu Shengtao said the conference demonstrated the city’s strength as a commercial and logistics hub, as well as its commitment to opening up to international markets.
He called on domestic and international businesses to deepen practical cooperation, expand commercial partnerships and pursue shared development through joint consultation, contribution and benefits.
Yu said the event served not only as a platform for product sourcing and business matchmaking, but also as an avenue to advance international economic cooperation and strengthen industrial and supply chain links.
He welcomed more companies to establish operations and invest in Linyi, expressing hope that participants would secure productive partnerships and tangible business outcomes.
To support sustained foreign trade growth, the Linyi Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Linyi Trade City Administrative Committee are implementing measures to improve overseas commercial services and facilitate connections between Chinese companies and international markets.
These include deploying the first batch of overseas comprehensive service stations in 11 key countries, including Malaysia, and introducing a system to collect business opportunities abroad, match them with the needs of companies in Linyi’s counties and districts, and follow up on potential deals.
Li Qian, head of the Malaysia Overseas Comprehensive Service Station established by Linyi, said the station had been actively connecting Malaysian business associations and companies with commercial opportunities in the Chinese city.
Since its establishment, the station has invited several Malaysian business associations and more than 100 companies to visit Linyi for business exchanges and assessments, helping match commercial resources and encourage bilateral cooperation.
Li said the station aimed to become an important platform for Linyi to strengthen trade ties with Malaysia and expand its international market reach.
Conference creates new opportunities for businesses
The Malaysian delegation’s participation reflects continued interest in China’s market and the potential to broaden cooperation beyond established trading relationships.
Through meetings with local government representatives, Chinese trading companies, international buyers and industry organisations, delegates can explore opportunities in cross-border procurement, product promotion, distribution networks, industrial partnerships and investment.
Linyi’s extensive wholesale markets and logistics infrastructure give it a significant role in product sourcing and distribution, potentially helping Malaysian companies connect with buyers and improve access to China’s regional markets.
Malaysia’s capabilities in E&E, advanced manufacturing, green technology and digital services also provide a basis for closer industrial cooperation.
Stronger business-to-business links could help more Malaysian products reach Chinese consumers, improve supply chain efficiency and create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in regional and international trade.
People-to-people exchanges strengthen bilateral ties
Beyond commercial engagement, the delegation’s participation brings together representatives from diplomatic, media, academic, digital content and business communities, highlighting the role of people-to-people exchanges in sustaining Malaysia-China relations.
During an exchange session the previous evening involving 10 Malaysian and Chinese doctoral scholars from MCTEAA, journalists and other participants, Niqman said bilateral engagement had become increasingly frequent, with cooperation extending beyond trade to education, culture, youth development and public exchanges.
He said friendly relations between countries were reflected not only in economic growth, but also in mutual understanding, respect and trust between their peoples.
As interactions become more frequent, business leaders, academics, journalists and young people have more opportunities to learn about each other’s histories, cultures, societies and ways of life.
Niqman said doctoral scholars, academics and journalists could play important roles in facilitating these exchanges. Academic collaboration encourages knowledge-sharing and intellectual cooperation, while the media can highlight the outcomes of bilateral partnerships and the experiences of people involved in them.
He expressed hope that both countries would continue expanding cooperation in education, culture, youth development and think-tank engagement, while encouraging younger generations to build friendships and identify opportunities through dialogue.
Sustained exchanges across different sectors, he said, would help ensure that Malaysia-China relations rested not only on trade and investment, but also on lasting mutual understanding and goodwill. – October 30, 2026