KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Jin Jiang Hotels China Region has inked a strategic partnership with Malaysia's RIYAZ International to launch RJJ Hotels and expand its footprint across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The initiative positioned Malaysia as a regional hub for tourism, hospitality, and cross-border investment, supporting long-term economic growth and sustainable development in Southeast Asia, the hotel groups said in a joint statement following a ceremony held on Wednesday.

The launch included the signing of multiple agreements, which set the stage for the introduction of five Jin Jiang brands into the region.

In his keynote speech, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Secretary-General Hairil Yahri Yaacob said that the partnership demonstrated investors' strong confidence in Malaysia's economic resilience and underscored the importance of global collaboration in solidifying Malaysia's position as a regional hub for trade, tourism, and sustainable development.

RIYAZ International and Jin Jiang Hotels China Region reaffirmed their commitments to sustainable hospitality growth, with Malaysia as the anchor and Southeast Asia as the next frontier. ■