China Looks To Deepen Malaysia Ties Through Belt And Road Cooperation - Guo
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- China looks forward to working with Malaysia to further synergise development strategies and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
He said China also looks forward to maintaining close communication and coordination with Malaysia on international and regional issues, while striving for more outcomes in building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
“China and Malaysia are good neighbours, good friends and good partners connected by sea.
“Over the past 50-plus years of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have maintained sound momentum of growth with good progress in cooperation across the board,” he said in a statement posted on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said the two countries were jointly building a high-level strategic community with a shared future.
Guo said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s attendance at the WorldSkills Competition and the Global Digital Trade Expo in China demonstrated the two countries’ close and warm ties, as well as sound cooperation in relevant areas.
On China-ASEAN cooperation, Guo said the recent 23rd China-ASEAN Expo had witnessed China-ASEAN cooperation progressing from the “Golden Decade” to the “Diamond Decade”, alongside the upgrade to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 (CAFTA 3.0).
“For the very first time, the expo designated an area tailored to ASEAN countries’ demands and released an ASEAN countries’ demand list aimed at precision matchmaking between what ASEAN needs and what China can provide,” he said.
Guo said the expo also featured a dedicated exhibition area for the Pinglu Canal, which officially opened to navigation last week.
He said the canal’s opening would significantly reduce the maritime shipping distance between southwest China and ASEAN countries, opening up a new route for bilateral trade.
“China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to implement CAFTA 3.0 and build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future,” he said.
Anwar arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday for a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The highlight of the Prime Minister's visit this time is a high-level meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, on Thursday.
Anwar also attended the WorldSkills Conference 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre and is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the conference's plenary session today.
China remains Malaysia's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$113.82 billion (RM456.68 billion) for the period from January to August this year.
-- BERNAMA
