KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): China hopes to begin another “50 golden years” in its bilateral relations with Malaysia, said President Xi Jinping, as he begins his three-day visit here for the first time in 12 years as part of his Asean tour.
In a statement, Xi said his return to Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, is hoped to deepen friendship, enhance political mutual trust, advance cooperation and mutual learning, and scale new heights in the development of the China-Malaysia community that started in 2023.
Xi said that during his visit, he will have “an in-depth exchange of views with King Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim” on bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of shared interest.
"For more than half a century since we began diplomatic relations, our two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and enjoyed mutually beneficial cooperation, setting a fine example for state-to-state relations," Xi said.
“Both China and Malaysia are major developing countries and members of the Global South. Deepening our high-level strategic cooperation is good for the common interests of both China and Malaysia, and good for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world,” he added.
“Together, we will open up a new chapter in the annals of our good neighbourly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation, and begin another 50 golden years in China-Malaysia relations,” he said.
Malaysia and China established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1974. Xi’s last state visit to Malaysia was in 2013. The two countries marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year.