*****************************************
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, who is on a visit to three Southeast Asian countries, today (March 17) started his round of calls in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mr Tsang first called on the Malaysian National Economic Advisory Council and met its chairman, Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz. The two sides exchanged views on the state of the world economy and shared their experiences in dealing with the global economic crisis.
The Financial Secretary then met the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. Mr Tsang told the prime minister that the purpose of his visit to Malaysia was to forge even closer economic relations with the country.
He said there was much room for co-operation between Hong Kong and Malaysia. A co-ordinated exit from the deposit insurance schemes at the end of 2010 was a vivid example. Co-operation in Islamic finance was another.
Mr Tsang and the Prime Minister agreed to start working on a double taxation agreement between Malaysia and Hong Kong.
During lunch hosted by the Malaysian Finance Minister II, Dato' Seri Haji Ahmad Husni bin Mohamed Hanadzlah, views were exchanged on Islamic finance and a co-ordinated exit strategy from various stimulus measures implemented to stabilise the economy during the financial tsunami.
In the afternoon, Mr Tsang called on the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Liu Jian.
In the evening, he will officiate at the opening premiere of the Hong Kong Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
Ends/Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:24
NNNN
