XIAMEN, Sept 8 — The bilateral trade volume between Malaysia and Xiamen, a coastal city in China’s southern province, rose 4.5 per cent year-on-year to US$1.59 billion (RM5.05 billion) in first half of this year.

Xiamen has been one of Malaysia’s top ten largest trading partners among Chinese cities, said Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation Deputy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud.

Last year, the two-way trade between Malaysia and Xiamen hit US$3.17 billon with the growth rate soared 22 per cent from a year earlier, accounting for 2.9 per cent of Malaysia-China’s total trade.

However, trade volume in the second half of the year might be affected by the sluggish global economy and China’s slower economic growth, he told Malaysian journalists on the side-lines of the 18th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) here today.

The four-day CIFIT starts today.

Malaysia’s export to Xiamen is made up of electrical and electronic products, fats and oils, machinery parts and components, rubber and rubber products, and fuel.

On the other hand, Xiamen’s export to Malaysia ranges from liquid crystal devices, footwear, electrical and electronic products, seafood products, machinery parts, to components. — Bernama