KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The strong momentum in China-Malaysia relations will continue as both countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership this year, said China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.
Speaking at a reception to commemorate the 74th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China earlier tonight, he said pragmatic cooperation between the two countries have yielded encouraging results.
Bilateral trade reached US$106.68 billion (about RM498.942 billion) in the first seven months, and China continued to be Malaysia’s top trading partner, Ouyang said, citing Chinese statistics.
“According to Malaysian statistics, China’s investment in Malaysia amounted to US$ 12.5 billion (about RM55.4 billion), accounting for 33.9 per cent of Malaysia’s total foreign direct investment of last year,” he added.
High-level visits between the two countries were frequent with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visiting China twice this year, reaching an important consensus with President Xi Jinping on jointly building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
Successive visits that followed have further reinforced the deep political trust between the two countries, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Malaysia in August.
“Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia establishing diplomatic ties, an important milestone in China-Malaysia bilateral relations history,” Ouyang said.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke who represented the Malaysian government was the guest of honour at the event.
Also present were Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Loke and Ouyang also raised a toast to China’s President Xi Jinping and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and to the success and prosperity of both countries.
— Bernama
