Making each day better

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AT 76, I have embraced a daily approach to living with purpose, positivity and resilience. Here are some simple yet powerful strategies that have helped me make each day better.

Start your day with purpose

Each morning, set a clear intention. This can be as simple as reminding yourself of your goals or deciding to focus on gratitude for the day ahead. Consider starting a morning ritual that makes you feel grounded – whether it’s a brief meditation, journalling, stretching or simply enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee.

Starting my day with purpose has brought clarity and calm, helping me stay focused on what truly matters.

Embrace the power of small wins

It’s easy to feel like you need to accomplish massive tasks to make your day “better”. In reality, small, incremental improvements lead to the biggest transformations.

Start with manageable tasks. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, break things down into smaller steps and focus on one thing at a time.

My practice of “small wins” has boosted my confidence, helped me build momentum, and motivated me to tackle bigger challenges.

Cultivate a positive mindset

The biggest barrier to making each day better often lies in your mind. Negative thoughts can spiral quickly, but the good news is that you can challenge those thoughts.

Practise positive self-talk. Replace “I can’t” with “I will” and “I’m not good enough” with “I’m constantly growing.”

Shifting my focus towards positivity has drastically improved my outlook and turned an ordinary day into something extraordinary.

Prioritise self-care

It’s easy to put everyone and everything else before yourself, especially when juggling multiple responsibilities.

But your wellbeing is the foundation upon which your ability to improve each day is built.

Make self-care a priority, not a luxury. This doesn’t mean hours of relaxation or expensive spa treatments.

Simple acts like deep breathing, getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and engaging in physical activity can drastically impact your mood and energy levels.

Over time, I realise that when I take care of myself, I have more to give to others and the world around me.

Learn from challenges

Challenges are part of life, and while they can feel overwhelming, they also offer opportunities for growth.

Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, view them as learning experiences.

Each obstacle provides a chance to reflect, adapt and come back stronger. The key is not to dwell on what went wrong but to find the lessons and move forward.

I have embraced the idea that challenges are stepping stones toward progress, not roadblocks.

Connect with others

Building and nurturing relationships with family, friends and even colleagues can lift our spirits and make each day brighter. When we connect with others, we share not only joy but also support during difficult times.

I always take time to reach out to someone I care about, whether through a phone call, a message or a simple gesture of kindness. These connections create a ripple effect of positivity, making life richer and more fulfilling.

Reflect on your day

At the end of each day, take a moment to reflect. What went well? What could you have done differently? What did you learn?

Reflection helps consolidate experiences, recognise growth, and improve for the future.

Instead of focusing on what went wrong, I try to highlight the positives, even if they’re small.

I acknowledge my efforts and give myself credit for what I do right.

Keep moving forward

Lastly, remember that progress doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process, and not every day will be perfect.

However, if you commit to improving just one thing daily, you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come. Perseverance is key.

I acknowledge that there will be good and bad days, but each one holds the potential to bring me closer to my best self.

I have learned to embrace the journey, trust the process, and keep taking steps forward.

Making each day better is within your power. It doesn’t require huge changes or monumental actions.

By shifting your mindset, setting intentional goals and focusing on small wins, you can transform even the most ordinary day into something extraordinary. - By LIONG KAM CHONG

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Nvidia CEO visits Beijing, highlights importance of Chinese market

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has visited China again three months after his trip in January, recently publicly stated that the company would "unswervingly serve the Chinese market" and emphasized China's key role in the global supply chain. He said Nvidia has grown together with the Chinese market and achieved mutual success. Against the backdrop of the US imposing tariffs and banning Nvidia's export of H20 chips to China, Huang's visit and his emphasis that China is a "very important market for Nvidia" can be seen as US companies' indirect resistance to US government's protectionist trade policies. His stance, viewing China as an opportunity rather than a threat, and the call for cooperation rather than decoupling, resonates strongly with the American tech and business community.

China is one of the world's largest consumer markets, and its thriving industrial ecosystem and broad application scenarios provide crucial momentum for continuous innovation for many American companies like Nvidia. As Huang put it, in-depth cooperation with Chinese companies has enabled it to evolve into an even more competitive international enterprise. Previously, some US business leaders also noted that they don't need to hitch a ride with the US government, they need the government to clear the path for us. The importance and urgency of cooperation with China have "unexpectedly" been highlighted against the backdrop of the US' reckless imposition of tariffs.

Not just in the tech and business industry, the call for "We need China" has recently spread across various sectors of American society. A recent poll by Pew Research Center also revealed surprising results. The survey showed that fewer and fewer Americans now view China as an enemy, with significant year-over-year decline in the share of Americans with an unfavorable view of China over the past five years. Bloomberg described this as "a sentiment that runs counter to the tariff," calling the finding "surprising." Moreover, on overseas social platforms like TikTok, Chinese e-commerce has unexpectedly risen to prominence, sparking a new wave of "Made in China" enthusiasm among US consumers. Many influencers have posted unboxing videos of products bought from Chinese e-commerce platforms, exclaiming that they can get the same quality items for just a tenth of the price.

Despite Washington frequently sent signals of confrontation, which has pushed China-US economic relations to the brink and, American society is not in favor of a zero-sum game between the two countries. Pew's survey results, to some extent, puncture the bubble of the so-called tariff policies inflated by Washington. Relevant approach has not reflected public opinion in the US, but instead oversimplifies the complexity and multifaceted nature of the bilateral relationship, turning it into a full-scale confrontation. Washington's abuse of tariffs ignores the high degree of economic complementarity between the two countries and the practical needs of their people, creating chaos and uncertainty for both the US and the global economy - something the American public is feeling firsthand.  

Those who are "surprised" by public opinion should reflect on what exactly is American public's attitude toward China, and who is "influencing" Americans' perceptions of China. Over the past few years, the so-called "China threat" has almost become the default opening line for politicians when discussing China, and the attitudes of some members of the public have also been affected. "China is taking advantage of the US," "the US must get the trade imbalance fixed," and "pursuing economic containment of China to achieve 'America First'" - this is the outdated logic behind Washington's so-called tariff policies toward China.

China-US economic and trade cooperation has brought enormous economic benefits to both sides, and the US has benefited just as much as China. The US imports a large volume of consumer goods, intermediate goods, and capital goods from China, supporting the development of its manufacturing supply chains and industrial chains, enriching consumer choices, lowering the cost of living, and improving the real purchasing power of the American public, especially for middle- and lower-income groups. When taking into account goods trade, services trade, and the local sales revenue of domestic enterprises operating in each other's countries, the economic gains from China-US trade are roughly balanced. These facts cannot be concealed by lies or slander; in fact, the more China-US economic and trade relations come under strain, the more likely these truths are to resonate within the US. 

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, recently announced plans to sue the US federal government over its abuse of tariff policies, stating, "We're standing up for American families who can't afford to let the chaos continue."

The hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the two societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. According to the public opinion survey conducted by the Global Times Institute (GTI) on "mutual perceptions between China and the US" in 2024, around 90 percent of respondents from both China and the US express concern over bilateral relations, with mainstream public opinion in both countries favoring strengthened economic and trade exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation on climate change. 

The phenomenal grassroots interactions between Americans and Chinese on social media recently also reflect that, beneath the anti-China clamor stirred up by some Washington politicians, there remains a strong, constructive desire among the people of both nations for peaceful coexistence and cooperative engagement. If the US continues to go its own way, pressing China with tariff blackmail and inciting for China-US "decoupling," the growing opposition from their voters may become a political reality that Washington can no longer ignore.Related posts:

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California sues Trump administration over "unlawful tariffs"

 

California governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that the western U.S. state which has the largest economy in the nation is suing the Trump administration over the President's sweeping "unlawful tariffs" on international trading partners.

"President Trump's unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy - driving up prices and threatening jobs," Newsom said in a statement, adding that "We're standing up for American families who can't afford to let the chaos continue."

"Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these destructive and chaotic tariffs. America stands to lose too much," said the governor in a post on X platform.

"We're taking him to court," said the governor.

"California is the largest manufacturing state in our union, one of the largest trading partners around the globe. No state will be impacted more than the state of California as it relates to the unilateral authority that's been asserted by the Trump administration to impose the largest tax increases in modern American history," he noted.

Newsom pointed out that "In America, forty percent of goods movements in this country come through two ports of entry in California. About 50 percent of that from China itself."

In the lawsuit, expected to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, California officials will argue that the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited to impose the tariffs, does not grant him the ability to unilaterally adopt those tariffs.

California, also the most populated U.S. state, is the first state in the nation to sue Trump administration on tariffs.

The Golden State is the largest importer among all U.S. states, with more than 675 billion U.S. dollars in two-way trade supporting millions of jobs throughout the state. Mexico, Canada and China are California's top three export destinations, buying nearly 67 billion dollars in California exports, which was over one-third of the state's 183 billion dollars in exported goods in 2024, according to the data released by the governor's office. - Xinhua

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“It further signals China’s readi­ness to work closely with regional partners like Malaysia to promote stability and shared prosperity in an increasingly complex global landscape,” he said when contacted yesterday.

ALSO READ: Despite challenges, Malaysia pledges to solidify trust, communication with China

Lauding the MOUs, Soh said it was important to take things beyond just the trade volume and investment ­figures.

“It must focus on co-creating high-value industrial ecosystems that support both countries’ aspirations, aligning Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP2030) with China’s innovation-­driven growth agenda,” he said.

Citing significant potential in strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean and renewable energy, electric mobility, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and smart logistics, Soh said the collaboration would spur both nations to jointly develop high-impact projects and sustainable, value-added supply chains.

He suggested that a more structured bilateral cooperation ­mechanism between both govern­ments and the business community be set up, such as joint innovation hubs and green and digital industrial parks.

ALSO READ: Synergy between two nations

Such an arrangement would further enhance Malaysia as a strategic base for Chinese ­investors to tap into Asean and the regional market via the Regional Comprehensive Econo­mic Part­nership (RCEP) and ACFTA.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) treasurer-­general Datuk Koong Lin Loong said the deepening cooperation went beyond China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as it covered several other key sectors.

He said the upgrading of the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) under the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative should also include the setting up of similar parks in other parts of the country.

Koong stated that collaboration aimed at enhancing inspection protocols for items such as fresh coconuts and standardising regulations could facilitate increased agricultural exports to China.

Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) national president Datuk William Ng said the wide-ranging agreements marked a promising new era in Malaysia-China relations.

“I see this as a pivotal moment for Malaysian businesses, especially our SMEs. The sectors identified in the MOUs reflect where the future of trade and industry is heading,” he said.

Ng said the benefits of the strategic partnerships must be inclusive and accessible to local SMEs, which he said made up over 97% of Malaysian businesses.

“We welcome these MOUs, and we want to see them benefit the SMEs and the rakyat and not just a select group of GLCs,” he added.

Ng proposed the creation of downstream programmes to enable SMEs to engage in key sectors through joint ventures, vendor development, or technology adoption.

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He said the collaboration should see Chinese companies helping local SMEs tap into the Chinese market via cross-border digital platforms, especially those operated by Chinese tech firms.

Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said the MOUs showed a clear intent by both nations to work together in bringing prosperity to their people.

“Among the key areas of cooperation is the adoption of AI and e-commerce, where China is a global leader. If we can adopt their approach, we can accelerate the digitisation of government and the implementation of a more comprehensive digital economy for the nation,” he said.

Wong said that Malaysia would also benefit from the collaboration between the leading universities of both nations, particularly in relation to emerging technologies.

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Malaysia will be China’s friend at all times, 31 MOUs inked in ‘new golden era’

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will remain an unwavering and principled friend to China during “moments of triumph and times of trial”, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

The Prime Minister said Malaysia and China have long stood shoulder to shoulder – not merely as comprehensive strategic partners, but as steadfast friends.

“Malaysia values this consistency. Malaysia will remain an unwavering and principled friend to China, guided by the wisdom of history and the promise of the future,” he said in a speech during the official dinner in honour of President Xi Jinping last night.

At a time when multilateralism is under tremendous strain, as certain nations abandon the principle of shared responsibility and others question long-standing commitments, Anwar said China’s global initiatives seem to offer a new lease on hope. 

“What we are witnessing today is not an honest reckoning with the imperfections of globalisation, but a retreat into economic tribalism. 

“Market access is being wea­ponised. What was once a multilateral covenant for shared growth now buckles under the weight of arbitrary disruption and unilateral whim.

“Amid this turbulence, China has been a rational, strong and reliable partner,” he said

Anwar said Malaysia’s foreign policy was shaped by a “clear-eyed” vision of its interest and the principle of Asean centrality.

“We do not simply favour coope­ration over confrontation (but) we embrace it. We do not merely prefer respect over rivalry, we uphold it.

“And we choose dialogue, not simply because it chose us, but as a cornerstone of lasting peace and prosperity,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that during these trying times, the world yearns for steadiness, reliability and purpose.

“We see this in China’s conduct. Malaysia acknowledges such steadiness with quiet recognition and remains conscious not only of the calm it has brought, but of the hope it may continue to offer,” said Anwar.

He said under the leadership of Xi, China has outlined a series of global initiatives that reflect a distinctive worldview.

He said the Belt and Road Initiative reimagines connectivity not as a network of roads and rails, but as a framework for cooperation.

“The Global Development Initiative underscores the importance of inclusive progress.

“The Global Security Initiative calls for peace through dialogue,” he said.

“Each of these ideas reflects a broader aspiration of what President Xi has described as a community with a shared future for mankind. 

“This brings to mind the famous saying of Confucius, that ‘within the four seas, all men are brothers’,” added Anwar, who said the phrase in Chinese.

He said he also hoped that Malaysia and China would endure a long-lasting relationship.

• 31 MOUs inked in ‘new golden era’

Malaysia and China deepen partnership with major deals on trade, tech and tourism

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and China have signed 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs), notes and cooperation agreements with the highlight being a mutual visa exemption for travellers between the two countries.

Currently, Malaysians can tra­vel to China visa-free until Dec 31 this year, while Chinese nationals enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia until Dec 31 next year.

The exemption was in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.

Other strategic areas of coope­ration include security, development, trade, transport, agriculture, education and digital technology.

The exchange of documents, which took place at the Seri Perdana Complex yesterday, was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Among the key agreements signed with ministries and agencies is one concerning giant pandas, comprising an MOU on the Cooperative Research Agreement for the International Conservation of Giant Pandas.

Strategic talks: Anwar and Xi with their delegates during a bilateral meeting at the Seri Perdana Complex in Putrajaya. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

Additionally, under the Invest­ment, Trade and Industry Minis­try, three MOUs were signed, including one aimed at upgrading the China-Malaysia “Two Coun­tries, Twin Parks” initiative.

Also, three MOUs were inked under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, including tourism and media cooperation between Xinhua News Agency from China and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.

There was also an exchange of notes between China and Malay­sia on the establishment of a joint foreign and defence dialogue.

Under the Transport Ministry, Malaysia and China signed an MOU between the National Railway Administration of China and the Transport Ministry to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector.

Meanwhile, the Digital Ministry and China’s National Develop­ment and Reform Commission inked an MOU on the digital economy, while the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

Several MOUs were also signed with media groups and universities, including one on bilateral cooperation between China’s People’s Daily and Star Media Group Bhd.

At the start of a bilateral mee­ting, Anwar remarked that Malaysia remains committed to working together with China in various areas, including economy, trade, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The Prime Minister stated that China is not only a close neighbour but also an important partner through the comprehensive strategic partnership, which reflects the deep trust and long-­standing cooperation between the two nations.

Toasting ties: Anwar and Xi attending the official dinner in honour of the Chinese President at the Seri Perdana Complex. — Bernama

Recalling his previous visit to China, Anwar said: “As I have said to you when we met in China, President Xi exemplifies a new type of persona, a leader who talks about growth and investment and economic advancement.

“He also talks about eliminating poverty and has proven his success, more importantly about shared prosperity and civilisation, which is hardly expressed by any modern leader in this world.

“We admire your tenacity and for that Malaysians welcome you, President Xi, not only as president of a great country, the President of China, but as a true friend.”

In his remarks, Xi announced a bold and shared vision for the future of China-Malaysia relations, pledging to elevate the partnership to unprecedented strategic heights.

He said both countries are committed to forging an even stronger bond, promising mutual benefits and enhanced regional prosperity.

“This marks my return to Malaysia after 12 years, during which the nation has achieved remarkable progress in its develop­ment.

“Your Madani government is steadily becoming a promising reality, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations,” he said.

Xi recalled the pivotal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia over five decades ago, which defied the tensions of the Cold War.

He also highlighted the solida­rity exhibited by both nations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today, our two countries are working in unity to jointly build a community with a shared future. China-Malaysia relations are now entering a new golden era,” he said

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