1MALAYSIA A GOOD CONCEPT, SAYS CHINA

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- China has described the 1Malaysia concept,
introduced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, as a good concept due
to the inclusiveness emphasised by the government.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this
was because China also had been applying a similar principle in its ethnic
affairs.

"We are now sharing experiences although the conditions and historical
backgrounds of the two countries are quite different.

"But the idea is that we share the same idea. We talk about 1Malaysia here,
to promote understanding, we have also the same concept about promoting
understanding in working together.

"So, there are lot of these basic principles and values that we feel very
heartened about. Although we may be different, (with) China so much bigger, the
condition is different, we are smaller...yet, the same challenge of maintaining
inter-ethnic relations," he told reporters here Friday.

Earlier, he received a courtesy call from China's Vice-Minister State Ethnic
Affairs Commission Wu Shimin at the National Unity and Integration Department
here.

Dr Koh said Najib had emphasised unity in diversity and to view diversity as
an asset, not a liability, as Malaysia had different ethnic and religious
groupings and different linguistic capabilities.

"Malaysians are able to communicate with China, India, Islamic countries and
the West through the different linguistic capabilities, religions and cultures.

"So, diversity becomes a strength we can leverage on. That is one of the
reasons why Malaysia, although we are small, is the top 20 trading nations in
the world," he said.

He it was a fruitful meeting between the two delegations as they had
exchanged views and experiences, as well as ideas in terms of ethnic relations.

At the same media conference, Wu believed countries were fortunate to have
many diversified ethnic groups as it could eliminate all differences.

He believed that in order to solve multi-ethnic or multi-religious affairs,
one should have proactive attitude based on harmony and economic progress.

-- BERNAMA