Malaysia's Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, was one of 37 world leaders attending last week's Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. This is the 94-year-old's second visit to China in less than a year - after being re-elected last year. CGTN's Wei Lynn Tang caught up with him and got his thoughts on China's opening-up efforts.

WEI LYNN TANG CGTN REPORTER "China has committed to further open up its markets. For one, it is lifting of foreign ownership limits in key sectors, it is further cutting tariffs. What are your thoughts on China's approach and pace of opening-up?"

MAHATHIR MOHAMAD MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER "China has always been a good market for Malaysia, even before. But now with the opening up of the Chinese market, we think we could increase our trade with China. I think this is a good thing because always there must be a two-way access. You must be able to export, but if you want your export to be accepted, you must also accept imports into your own country. So China is opening up."

WEI LYNN TANG CGTN REPORTER "China is moving up the value chain. Where previously it was a source of ample, cheap labour. Now it also wants to produce high quality products. How can Malaysian businesses really capitalize on this?"

MAHATHIR MOHAMAD MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER "Well we can learn from China. For example, in the automotive industry. We remember the first Chinese car, the Cherry, it was very poor quality. Noboday would want to buy it. But now Chinese cars are as good as European-made cars, certainly the new car produced by Geely and Proton, SUVX 70, it is a very good car. It is as good as any car that I've driven."

WEI LYNN TANG CGTN REPORTER "What would you like to see an outcome perhaps between China and the US? They are still in talks."

MAHATHIR MOHAMAD MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER "We would like to see an end to trade war. Trade war is very negative. It doesn't produce anything good at all."