19-6-2024 (BEIJING) Chinese Premier Li Qiang has expressed China’s readiness to work closely with Malaysia, taking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a new starting point. During his three-day official visit to the Southeast Asian nation, Li emphasised the importance of further synergising development strategies, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and increasing exchanges and mutual learning between civilisations.
Li, who is making his first trip to Malaysia since assuming the post in March 2023, said China is prepared to promote the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, contributing to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the region and the world at large.
“Currently, China is advancing Chinese modernisation on all fronts through high-quality development. Malaysia, on its part, is promoting national development under the vision of Malaysia Madani. China is ready to work with Malaysia,” Li said in his arrival statement at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Tuesday, June 18.
Li’s visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, which was sealed with the signing of the Joint Communiqué between then-Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and then-Chinese Premier Chou En Lai on May 31, 1974.
According to Li, over the past five decades, China and Malaysia’s relations have maintained a sound momentum of growth, consolidating strategic mutual trust, strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and achieving fruitful results in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
“Malaysia is a major emerging economy in Asia, a key member of ASEAN, and an important force for regional prosperity and stability,” Li said, emphasising the significance of the bilateral relationship.
The Chinese Premier highlighted that the growth of China-Malaysia relations has brought tangible benefits to the people of both nations and made a positive contribution to peace and development in the region.
Li said that last year, President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reached important common understandings on building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, ushering in a new chapter of bilateral relations.
During his current official visit, Li looks forward to meeting with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia and Prime Minister Anwar for an in-depth discussion on building this China-Malaysia community with a shared future and deepening the all-round comprehensive strategic cooperation.
“I will also attend the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship,” Li said, underscoring the significance of this milestone.
