President Xi Jinping: Malaysia is China's good neighbor, friend and partner

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday hailed China-Malaysia relations, calling the Southeast Asian country China's good neighbor, good friend and good partner, during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Beijing.

Xi said the two countries have maintained close interactions and exchanges at all levels and advanced mutually beneficial cooperation with high quality on all fronts since Anwar's first China visit in March last year after taking office as prime minister, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China and Malaysia are both at crucial stages of national development and rejuvenation, he said.

The two sides should take the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the China-Malaysia Year of Friendship as an opportunity to work together for a more concrete China-Malaysia community with a shared future, to help each other achieve their development goals and make new and greater contributions to regional prosperity and stability, said Xi.

He stressed that the two sides should develop a high-level strategic partnership, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen the exchange of governance experience, enhance political mutual trust, and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns.

China supports Malaysia in maintaining strategic autonomy and choosing a development path that suits its national conditions, he said.

Xi said both sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and jointly implement flagship projects such as the Malaysia-China "Two Countries, Twin Parks," create new growth points in cooperation in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and new energy, and explore establishing a poverty reduction cooperation mechanism.

Malaysia is welcome to make good use of the China International Import Expo platform to export more high-quality Malaysian specialty products to China, he said.

Xi said China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Malaysia in higher education, culture, tourism, youth, and local affairs to forge a closer bond of friendship between the two peoples.

He said both sides should advocate the coexistence and harmony of diverse civilizations, practice the Asian values of peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration, and promote the mutual learning and development of Chinese and Islamic civilizations.

Noting that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi said that as major representatives of developing countries and emerging economies in Asia, China and Malaysia should strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues and firmly support each other.

Both countries should jointly oppose protectionism, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, drive the reform and improvement of the global governance system, and safeguard international fairness and justice, and the common interests of developing countries, Xi said.

China supports Malaysia in its role as the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, supports ASEAN's centrality and strategic autonomy, and works to maintain the mainstream of development and cooperation in the region, he said.

Anwar said President Xi has proposed significant concepts such as building a community with a shared future for mankind, advocated for mutual learning and inclusiveness among different civilizations, and put forward insightful suggestions for guiding and promoting "BRICS Plus" cooperation.

It shows the Chinese president's care for the progress of human civilization and the welfare of the people, his wisdom and responsibilities, and represents the common aspirations and voices of the Global South, said Anwar. The Malaysian side appreciates and supports President Xi's vision and initiatives, he said.

He said the Malaysian government is committed to further deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, strengthening cooperation in areas such as information technology, digital economy, and energy.

Malaysia and China share similar ideas and positions on many major international and regional issues, said Anwar, adding that his country is committed to strategic autonomy and is willing to conduct close multilateral collaborations with China to maintain regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

(With input from Xinhua)