Tan Kai visit to China

suppadmin | June 9, 2014

SUPP Youth Chairman, Tan Kai left with a group of 100 youth leaders throughout the nation on a five-day diplomatic trip to the People’s Republic of China staring May 26.

UMNO youth leader, Khairy Jamaluddin who is also the Youth and Sports Minister, led the youth group which was in conjunction with the commemoration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Razak also led a group of 11 delegates on the trip.

The youth delegation was part of a biennial youth exchange program hosted by the All China Youth Federation as a means of establishing closer relationship between the youths of Malaysia and China not only in terms of economic, social but also politically.

Tan Kai, who represented SUPP as a political party, said the trip has been an eye opener for him and there is a positive scenario in term of economy which would auger well for Malaysia in the near future.

From Sarawak joining him were young entrepreneurs and the squash player, Sharon Wee.

Malaysia, said Tan Kai, was the first country in South East Asia to establish diplomatic relationship with China in 1974. The present Prime Minister’s father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein did what other neighbouring countries shunned – to establish a close relationship with China. Mao Zedong was the then President and Zhou Enlai was the first premier.

“In one of his speech, the PM who was a student in England then, asked his father why he chose such a poor country like China to be a friend. He replied that China may be poor and its industry was not advanced. But on the political side, one has to look far and Zhou Enlai was a person who could be trusted.”

Malaysia has always been kind to China during various international diplomatic meetings and had stood firmly in supporting China regionally and internationally.

Our former Prime Minister did not make any mistake – today China being such a big country economically, has brought Malaysia under its wings. And despite Malaysia being such a small country, we are number 8 in term of its trading partner.

Tan Kai said Najib told the crowd that 40 years ago, his father was brought to see a factory making sewing machines. In comparison during this trip, they were brought to see the world’s third largest Communication research centre, “Hua Wei”.

Both countries, he added, were developing countries and besides achieving a lot in term of trading, there were also achievements in education and tourism and the China President had said during the trip that he would like both countries to be elevated to be comprehensive strategic partners. “This means extending further the relationship which included boundary ties, high technology, military, financial and investment opportunities,” he said adding that the Panda being on loan to Malaysia is a show of the good relationship both countries enjoyed.

China has their own dreams, said Tan Kai: likewise Malaysia also dream of the Vision 2020 which hopefully could be achieved.

During the trip, Tan Kai visited the International Department of Communist party of China, the Great wall of China, the Olympic Birdnest and attended cultural show performed by the Beijing Art group, which was joined by Permata Seni Malaysia.

While visiting the National Committee of the Chinese People Political Consultative conference, Tan Kai said he was amazed at the training program planned out by the Communist party. Those who were interested in politics have to be identified first as a potential leader and they would undergo rigid training sessions to ensure they are capable, efficient and has the charisma to be a leader.

Another interesting place of visit was the Beijing university foreign study where the Chinese there took up the Bahasa Malaysia language. He said the foreign study was set up to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The trip, added Tan Kai showed him that in politics, one must always be independent and have a strong sense of principle.

“It also taught me that we should never look down at our poorer neighbours. They will just grow bigger than us and one day, we might need them. It is important to all of us that we live in harmony with our neighbouring countries to learn and share what we know best,” he said.