PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim once again invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang for an official visit to Malaysia in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations in 2024.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said both Malaysia and China have planned various activities, ahead of the diplomatic relations anniversary celebration next year.

He said this year is the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Malaysia and China, and in 2023, there were 12 top exchange visits from Malaysia to China and six highest exchange visits from China to Malaysia.

“I have visited China twice this year,” he said in a statement issued in conjunction with his working visit to Nanning, today, to attend the 20th China-Asean Expo (Caexpo).

Anwar held a working visit to Beijing and Hainan in March this year, after being appointed prime minister last November.

The prime minister described the relations between Malaysia and China as special and historic, as it is based on mutual respect and equality. 

Commenting on his discussion with Li in conjunction with his visit to China this time, Anwar said it touched on various bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual importance.

Anwar said both parties welcomed the development of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, such as the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Par, and the East Coast Rail Link and Automative High Tech Valley, which involved exploring follow-up cooperation between DRB Hicom and Geely, especially in the fields of electric vehicle and high technology.

He said both countries also agreed to boost cooperation in the areas of technical and vocational education and Training through research between the universities of Malaysia and China.

“Malaysia and China also agreed to enhance cooperation through commodities and agricultural-based industries such as oil palm, rubber, biodiesel, durian, food security and access for Malaysian agricultural products into the Chinese market,” he said.

Anwar said both countries also agreed to improve cooperation in science and technology, and vaccine development technology, research and development as well as manufacturing centres, apart from welcoming more cooperation among high-technology companies in the digital economy sphere.

In the aspect of connectivity, Anwar said both countries also agreed to step up cooperation in tourism as well as increasing flight frequencies between Malaysia and China. – Bernama, September 17, 2023.