WeWork signs deal with Malaysian industry body

Shared workplace company WeWork formed a strategic partnership framework with Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, aimed at promoting in-depth engagement and cooperation between Chinese and Malaysian enterprises.

Under the framework, WeWork will provide preferential office service offerings for MAYCHAM China and its members, while MAYCHAM China will connect WeWork with its member resources.

"WeWork is committed to creating an unparalleled working experience and an innovative and collaborative community, so as to facilitate companies in talent acquisition, to help employees achieve optimal efficiency, and to enable WeWork members to explore business opportunities globally," said Conan Quan, general manager of WeWork North China.

"Through this cooperation, WeWork hopes to empower the business engagement between the China and Malaysia," Quan said.

According to WeWork, the partnership framework with MAYCHAM China aims to exchange and upgrade the resources from both sides, providing more favorable benefits to more members, encouraging more business exchange opportunities for both countries, and injecting new energy into the China-Malaysia economic and trade relations.

Razidah Hanim Abdul Razak, minister counselor at the embassy of Malaysia in China, said: "China-Malaysia friendship has a long history and the two countries have maintained good trade interactions."

She noted that 2019 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Last year, China became Malaysia's largest trading partner for the 10th consecutive year.

Data from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia showed that in 2018, the trade volume between Malaysia and China reached $77.4 billion, up 8.1 percent on a year-on-year basis.

"Chinese companies have been continuously increasing investment in Malaysia and actively deepening cooperation in areas like infrastructure and e-commerce. Meanwhile, the enthusiasm of Malaysian companies investing in China also continued to rise, with Malaysian enterprises expanding their presence in the commercial, manufacturing and other industries in China," the minister counselor said.

Loh Wee Keng, vice-chairman of MAYCHAM China, said that he hopes the cooperation will accelerate the pace of Chinese enterprises of going global and help strengthen the trade cooperation between Chinese enterprises and Malaysia.