The China-ASEAN Business Caravan, a convoy of 56 vehicles from Kunming, China, is traveling through Malaysia from 1 May to 5 May 2004.

The visit is part of an 18day tour beginning from 23 April 2004 organised by the Bangkokbased Asia Pacific Economic and Trade Association (APETA) in cooperation with the Yunnan Province government and the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce to promote bilateral relations, economic and
commercial activities between China and ASEAN countries.

The event celebrates the 30 th anniversary of SinoMalaysia diplomatic relations and commemorates the 600 th anniversary of Admiral Cheng Ho's expeditions to South East Asia.

The Caravan is headed by Mr.Su Zhengguo, Vice Chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference of Yunnan Province, and Mr. Ma Junkun, a top Chinese rally motorist. They are leading some 180 participants who are mostly high ranking civil servants and leading businessmen from the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing and Thailand.

The Caravan leaves China on 23 April and pass through several cities in Thailand from 24 April to 30 April. On 1 May, the Mentri Besar of Perlis Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim will welcome the Caravan at the MalaysiaThai border in Bukit Kayu Hitam after which the convoy will leave for Kuala Lumpur.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Caravan participants will attend a business forum on 2 May and depart for Singapore the following day. The Caravan will return to Malaysia to visit Genting Highlands on 4 May and depart the next day for China via Thailand.

For more information on the Caravan, please contact the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce at 032141 1278 or email inquiry@malaysiachina. com.my

Issued by Communications Division, Tourism Malaysia
Date: 22 April 2004
For more information, please contact Anis Shabirin at 032693 5188
or email aniss@tourism.gov.my