THE inaugural Malaysia-China high-level committee (HLC) on cooperation in the post-Covid-19 era meeting today agreed to collaborate on vaccine research and development (R&D), as well as production.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Saifuddin said the collaboration will fulfil Malaysia’s aspiration to produce its own vaccines, as contained in Malaysia’s National Vaccine Development Roadmap.

“Malaysia welcomes prominent vaccine companies from China to set up their production plants in the country, which includes data research and R&D centres,” he said in a joint press conference with Wang after the meeting.

Saifuddin also announced China’s contribution of some additional two million doses of Sinovac vaccine to Malaysia, on top of the one million doses announced in September.

On Malaysia-China ties, he said today’s discussion also provided the opportunity to take stock and identify new ways to further diversify both countries’ relations.

He said Beijing has accepted Putrajaya’s request for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to visit China next year at the soonest possible date.

“We always put China high up on the agenda. China is usually one of the earliest countries our leaders would visit after our Asean neighbours,” he said.

He said both sides also discussed various aspects of economic cooperation including trade and investment, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), industrial parks, mega projects and agriculture product trade.

He said Malaysia welcomed China’s readiness to negotiate access for more of Malaysia’s quality agriculture products into the Chinese market.

He also highlighted on the memoranda of understanding (MOU) on Digital Telecommunications Cooperation and Film Co-Production Agreement, which were at the final stage of conclusion.

“We are excited about the potential growth of digital economy cooperation between the two countries. When it comes to digital economy investment, this is something we look forward to working closer with the government of China or companies from China,” he said.

He said Malaysia would like to invite more investments in this area through its digital investment office under the Economic Planning Unit.

Saifuddin also noted the progress of the renewal of Agreement on Space Cooperation and the Peaceful Use of Outer Space between Malaysian Space Agency and China National Space Administration – which was signed on Tuesday.

He said the negotiation of the MOU on Cooperation in Traditional Medicine was also concluded while the letter of intent for China-Malaysia Basketball Cooperation was ready to be signed.

On culture and people-to-people exchanges, Saifuddin said both countries also agreed to pursue discussions on expanding the teaching of Bahasa Melayu in China, an initiative that will bridge the understanding of the peoples between Malaysia and China.

“Currently there are 15 universities teaching Malay language and Malay studies. We will try to assist in every way possible by sending books, instructors and so on,” he added.

The HLC meeting was conducted in a hybrid setting, with representatives of relevant agencies from Putrajaya and Beijing participating via video link. 

Saifuddin is on a two-day official visit to China at Wang’s invitation. – Bernama, December 4, 2021.