KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) expects trade between China and Malaysia to double in the next five years, says Deputy Chief Executive Datuk Mohamad Kamarudin Hassan.

He said China continued to remain Malaysia's largest global trading partner since 2009.

"Malaysia's total trade with China amounted to RM166.86 billion last year, up 13.9 per cent, when compared with 2010," he said.

In order to achieve the target, Matrade has identified 10 urban Chinese cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Zhengzhou and Shenyang, as second-tier cities.

"First-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have become too expensive," he told reporters after a briefing on "China's Second-Tier Cities-Potential and Opportunities" here today.

In order to tap opportunities, Matrade has gathered 300 Malaysian companies, mainly small-and-medium enterprises, to participate in the 9th China-Asean Expo, The Western China Fair and Canton Fair Autumn Session that would be held this year.

"Many of these small-and-medium enterprises are export-ready and are from the food and beverage sector, consumer products and also franchise industry," he said.

Many Malaysian exporters have succeeded in making inroads into China via participating in such events, he added.