Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 31, 2023. PHOTO XINHUA BEIJING President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to promote China-Malaysia cooperation in all fields in order to push for greater development of bilateral ties and to give new impetus to regional prosperity, while meeting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday.
Xi said that both China and Malaysia enjoy a long-standing friendship and have taken the lead in developing their relations in the region.
He said that the consensus reached between the two sides on building a community with a shared future during Anwar's official visit to China will open a new historic chapter in China-Malaysia relations.
As China resolutely advances with high-level opening-up and Chinese-style modernization, new opportunities will be created for Malaysia and other countries, Xi said, calling for cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, green development and new energy.
Xi said that China and Malaysia are beneficiaries, contributors and defenders of globalization and multilateralism in Asia, and that they are ready to work with Malaysia to adhere to strategic independence, to the original aspiration of East Asian cooperation and to uphold the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
He also stressed the importance of both sides to firmly oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation and uphold true multilateralism to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and to improve global governance.
President Xi Jinping meets Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 31, 2023. PHOTO XINHUA Anwar said he came to China as a true friend and with feelings of sincere friendship for China. Malaysia will work with China to strengthen trade and the economy, poverty alleviation and agricultural modernization, amongst others, and invite Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia.
He said that the freedom of religious belief and the freedom of worship of Muslims in China are well protected and Malaysia is willing to deepen civilizational exchanges and dialogue with China.