ID :
154942
Mon, 12/27/2010 - 12:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/154942
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN-GERMAN TIES NEED A POLITICAL NUDGE
BERLIN, DEC 27 (BERNAMA) -- The bilateral relations between Malaysia and
Germany need to be be strengthened with a political nudge through the regular
exchange of visits by politicians, business people, academics and artistes among
others, former Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Zakaria Sulong said.
He said bilateral relations between Malaysia and Germany had progressed well
in recent years but they need to increase their high-level exchanges to
revitalise the ties.
"A strategic partnership could well ensue if both sides acknowledge and
pursue the seriousness of each other’s intent to intensify their cooperation in
a strategic manner," he told Bernama.
"Germany has vital interests in the Asean region where Malaysia can open up
doors through its extensive regional presence. Conversely, Germany can clear
boulders for Malaysia in the road leading to greater accessibility to the
European Union market.
"This can be done through a continued exchange of high-level political
visits," Zakaria said before leaving Berlin in spring this year to take
up his new assignment as Malaysia’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Zakaria said he tried during his nearly three years in Berlin to get
Chancellor Angela Merkel or the German President to visit Malaysia.
The visit did not materialise, but many Malaysians in Germany told Bernama
that they would like Germany to give a strong push to bilateral relations by
paying a long-overdue reciprocal visit to Malaysia after former Malaysian prime
minister Abdullah Ahmad Badhawi’s official visit to Germany three years ago.
Malaysian and German experts said that trade and investments, which play a
key role in relations between the two countries, are strong and can be further
strengthened with a political nudge.
They said that given the technical capabilities of Malaysian engineers and
other experts, Germany’s aviation industry could set up a MRO (maintenance,
repair and overhaul) services hub in Malaysia.
The German automaker BMW has set up a hub in Johor, a southern state in
Peninsular Malaysia. Volkswagen recently signed an agreement to assemble its
Passat cars in Malaysia.
There is a perception in the German industry that every foreign student
who returns to his native country after completing his studies in Germany, turns
into an unofficial ambassador of the German industry.
Such students, to use the local expression, are “vaccinated” with the
“German serum”. This creates lifelong bonds of friendship and emotional links
with the former host country.
Malaysia has been able to assert its position as Aseaan's number one
exporting nation to Germany in 2009, even as Malaysia’s exports to Germany
declined by 10.7 per cent from 4.47 billion euros in 2008 down to 3.99 billion
euros in 2009.
Malaysia’s imports from Germany also fell by 18.1 percent, down from 3.95
billion in 2008 to 3.23 billion euros in 2009. But 2010 promises to be a year
of higher growth in two-way trade, as figures to be released next are expected
to show.
-- BERNAMA
Germany need to be be strengthened with a political nudge through the regular
exchange of visits by politicians, business people, academics and artistes among
others, former Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Zakaria Sulong said.
He said bilateral relations between Malaysia and Germany had progressed well
in recent years but they need to increase their high-level exchanges to
revitalise the ties.
"A strategic partnership could well ensue if both sides acknowledge and
pursue the seriousness of each other’s intent to intensify their cooperation in
a strategic manner," he told Bernama.
"Germany has vital interests in the Asean region where Malaysia can open up
doors through its extensive regional presence. Conversely, Germany can clear
boulders for Malaysia in the road leading to greater accessibility to the
European Union market.
"This can be done through a continued exchange of high-level political
visits," Zakaria said before leaving Berlin in spring this year to take
up his new assignment as Malaysia’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Zakaria said he tried during his nearly three years in Berlin to get
Chancellor Angela Merkel or the German President to visit Malaysia.
The visit did not materialise, but many Malaysians in Germany told Bernama
that they would like Germany to give a strong push to bilateral relations by
paying a long-overdue reciprocal visit to Malaysia after former Malaysian prime
minister Abdullah Ahmad Badhawi’s official visit to Germany three years ago.
Malaysian and German experts said that trade and investments, which play a
key role in relations between the two countries, are strong and can be further
strengthened with a political nudge.
They said that given the technical capabilities of Malaysian engineers and
other experts, Germany’s aviation industry could set up a MRO (maintenance,
repair and overhaul) services hub in Malaysia.
The German automaker BMW has set up a hub in Johor, a southern state in
Peninsular Malaysia. Volkswagen recently signed an agreement to assemble its
Passat cars in Malaysia.
There is a perception in the German industry that every foreign student
who returns to his native country after completing his studies in Germany, turns
into an unofficial ambassador of the German industry.
Such students, to use the local expression, are “vaccinated” with the
“German serum”. This creates lifelong bonds of friendship and emotional links
with the former host country.
Malaysia has been able to assert its position as Aseaan's number one
exporting nation to Germany in 2009, even as Malaysia’s exports to Germany
declined by 10.7 per cent from 4.47 billion euros in 2008 down to 3.99 billion
euros in 2009.
Malaysia’s imports from Germany also fell by 18.1 percent, down from 3.95
billion in 2008 to 3.23 billion euros in 2009. But 2010 promises to be a year
of higher growth in two-way trade, as figures to be released next are expected
to show.
-- BERNAMA
