Malaysia–China air cargo pact boosts KLIA as regional hub
SEPANG: Malaysia's air cargo partnership with China is set to strengthen the country's role as a regional hub through four major international airports.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the enhanced cooperation, based on a twin-hub model linking Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) in Henan, aims to expand air cargo routes, strengthen logistics networks and boost economic ties under the framework of China's Air Silk Road.
He also said the collaboration would further facilitate trade and e-commerce activities between the two countries.
"Malaysia remains China's second-largest trading partner within Asean and its leading source of imports.
"Strategically located at the heart of a high-growth, high-traffic region in Asean, Malaysia benefits from a well-established air route network connecting major global markets and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) area, offering favourable conditions for the development of air cargo services.
"By leveraging these opportunities, Malaysia is intensifying efforts to strengthen our air cargo sector by positioning KLIA and other international airports such as Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Senai International Airport as regional cargo hubs," he said.
Loke said this in his keynote address at the Zhengzhou–Kuala Lumpur Air Silk Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Also present were Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, Henan Governor Wang Kai, and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Zheng Xuefang.
Malaysia and China are strengthening regional trade through a strategic air cargo partnership between KLIA and CGO.
Building on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, the collaboration advanced today with the launch of a high-level forum under China's Belt and Road Air Silk Road initiative, aimed at expanding cargo connectivity across Asia, positioning KLIA as a leading regional hub and creating new opportunities to accelerate Malaysia's economic growth.
Meanwhile, Loke said the cooperation, formalised through the MoU last year between MAHB and China Henan Aviation Group Co. (CHAGC), has seen an increase in cargo volume from 437 tonnes in 2023 to 1,812 tonnes in 2024.
He said the growth had continued, with volumes reaching 11,635 tonnes as of September 2025.
Apart from volume growth, he added that the frequency of weekly air cargo services between the two airports had also increased, from three times a week to 10 times weekly this year.
"Cargo shipments from Zhengzhou Airport to KLIA largely comprise cross-border e-commerce goods, while exports from KLIA to Zhengzhou are dominated by fresh fruits, particularly durians and other tropical varieties that are steadily gaining popularity in the Chinese market.
"This development positions KLIA as a regional air cargo hub that Chinese e-commerce players can utilise as a trans-shipment centre."