Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister showed his penchant for public relations. He was at the signing of the Agreement on Cultural Co-operation between Malaysia and China and the launching of the Contemporary Art Exhibition from China at the National Art Gallery.

"I will personally push for closer and deeper relations with China,"he says.

His father Tun Razak visited China in 1974 when diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China began, followed by a fanfare of Mao's pictures during the 1974 general elections. This time the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is scheduled to visit China for the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.

China is forecasted as having 7.5% economic growth this year. Her economy of scales and the cheap labour for the next decade means she will be the manufacturing hub of the world. Factories in China, whether foreign or local, sell their goods to international market. Many factories like shoes, furniture, textiles and bicycles in Malaysia close down; operators either move to China or simply buy the cheaper goods from her.

For years, other countries such as USA have their experts within and outside China to study the conditions in the country. They provide useful information to their companies to make the best of the opportunities in China. But, despite the good relations with the country, Malaysia has not had up-to-date study of the trade conditions in China, especially the types of niche that are suitable for Malaysians. As a result, some Malaysians lose money there. We hope Najib can help set up meaningful study of commercial conditions and niche for Malaysians in China.