April 27, 2026
Sarawak, April 2026 — AERI Deputy Director Chen Chao led a team to East Malaysia for in-depth engagement with Sarawak entrepreneur Guan Shengrong (widely known as "Hai Ma Ge"), marking the Institute's crucial step into the ASEAN heartland. This research mission confirmed the establishment details of the AERI Sarawak Branch and signifies that future cooperation between Greater China and Southeast Asia in trade, healthcare, and other fields will receive more professional intellectual support.
In April 2026, Deputy Director Chen Chao and his delegation arrived in Sarawak, Malaysia. The core mission of this trip was to provide on-site guidance for the preparatory work of the AERI Sarawak Branch. Located in the economic heartland of East Malaysia, Sarawak possesses abundant resources and a unique geographical position, and has gradually become a popular destination for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas.
Chen Chao's research itinerary was tightly packed. In addition to holding discussions with local political and business figures, he conducted field visits to numerous local enterprises. He emphasized during the research that the establishment of the Sarawak Branch is not simply an expansion of branch office scale, but rather an important component of AERI's ASEAN strategic layout, which will provide research outcomes closer to ground-level conditions for the regional economic integration process.
The key figure meeting with Chen Chao was Guan Shengrong, Chairman of the AERI Sarawak Branch Preparatory Committee, better known locally in Malaysia as "Hai Ma Ge." Guan Shengrong currently serves as Vice President of the Malaysia Entrepreneurship Promotion Association and Chairman of the Malaysia Live Streaming Association (East Malaysia Region).
Beyond his business association roles, Guan Shengrong also serves as Director of the Malaysia-China Resource Integration Association under the Sarawak state government, Director of the Entrepreneurship Association, and Director of the National Crime and Drug Prevention Supervision Committee. These positions give him deep familiarity with government operations and strong connections in the grassroots entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing unique advantages for the Institute's future integration of political and business resources.
The commercial foundation of Guan Shengrong's success is built on the "Hai Ma Wang" brand he founded in the healthcare sector. This brand has cultivated the Malaysian health and wellness market for years, establishing a full-chain operation from health product R&D and manufacturing to retail sales, enjoying high brand recognition in the local market.
Beyond healthcare, Guan Shengrong's business interests extend to port operations, international trade, investment management, and live streaming platforms. This diversified industrial background means he can provide the Institute with rich corporate resources and practical case studies, bridging the gap between academic research and practical needs.
During their working meetings, Chen Chao and Guan Shengrong conducted in-depth and detailed discussions on the development positioning of the Sarawak Branch. Both parties agreed that the branch should be firmly rooted in Sarawak, radiate outward to the broader East Malaysia region, and ultimately connect with the entire ASEAN. The focus areas should be regional economy, trade and investment, and the healthcare industry.
Chen Chao acknowledged the progress made by Guan Shengrong's team during the preparatory phase and provided specific guidance on the Institute's engagement mechanisms with local governments, business associations, and enterprises. He emphasized that for a think tank to be effective, it must not conduct research behind closed doors but must establish normalized communication channels with local stakeholders.
Guan Shengrong stated during the talks that he will fully leverage AERI's platform advantages to facilitate practical cooperation between Sarawak and Greater China in multiple areas, with key sectors including bilateral trade facilitation, cross-border investment matchmaking, and integration of healthcare industry resources.
In terms of specific pathways, the Sarawak Branch will shoulder three functions: publishing regional investment guides, organizing multinational business study tours, and building a policy dialogue platform between enterprises and government. This "research plus implementation" composite model differs significantly from traditional think tanks that merely publish reports, and is particularly valuable for its practical operational utility.
This research mission has clarified the Sarawak Branch's timeline for the coming period. According to informed sources, the official inauguration of the branch has entered its countdown phase, with a more in-depth East Malaysia investment environment report to be released simultaneously, providing decision-making references for Chinese enterprises interested in entering the region.
As an international think tank focused on Asian regional economic and social development research, AERI is primarily active in Singapore and maintains branch networks in multiple regions. The establishment of the Sarawak Branch will further complete its ASEAN layout, and is expected to become an important bridge connecting China's economic and trade exchanges with East Malaysia.