BEIJING, Sept 9 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) on Tuesday opened its third office in China to further woo investments.

Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, said the office, after Shanghai and Guangzhou, was to serve and facilitate Chinese investors amid their strong interests to invest in Malaysia.

He said the office would enhance MIDA’s efforts to attract Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia as well as act as a resources centre for interested companies looking for business and investment opportunities in Malaysia.

“China is a very important country for Malaysia and we hope the new office would further attract their investments,” he told reporters after officiating MIDA’s office here Tuesday.

Mustapa said the Chinese companies had strong presence in Malaysia’s construction industry as well as in property, manufacturing, services and ports.

He said Malaysia had seen an increase in investments from the Chinese companies and would continue to further attract high-quality investments as well as establish a balance between Malaysian investments in China and vice versa.

Mustapa is here on a working trip for the 10th meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission between the two governments and the three meetings which were held emphasised on bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Among the highlights were Chinese companies’ interests to invest in cement industry, Qingzhou and Kuantan industrial parks as well as global and regional development.

The minister also met 29 corporate leaders arranged by Bank of China following an agreement signed between MIDA and the bank to jointly promote Malaysia in China.

Mustapa also expressed Malaysia’s support for China-ASEAN free trade agreement as well as to urge the Chinese government to facilitate Malaysian Airlines Bhd’s approval process on registration in China.