KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to expedite practical cooperation and advance the key Belt and Road projects.
Abdullah said China is not only Malaysia's largest trading partner, but also its important strategic partner. The two sides have jointly made remarkable achievements in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and great progress on the industrial park projects of the two countries, which have injected strong impetus to Malaysia's economic development.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China stands ready to collaborate with Malaysia to adhere to open regionalism, safeguard the hard-won peace, stability and development in the region, and make greater contributions to development and advancement of humankind
The Malaysian side expects to keep high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, enhance docking between the various departments and regions of the two countries, and speed up practical cooperation, he said.
The supreme head of state welcomes more Chinese investment, and expressed willingness to jointly build the major projects of the Belt and Road with China to set an example of interconnectivity.
ALSO READ: China, Malaysia to safeguard ASEAN-centered cooperation
Wang said China has been the largest trade partner of Malaysia for 13 consecutive years, and the all-round cooperation between the two countries has been fruitful, boosting both countries' development and rejuvenation, and delivering huge benefits to the two peoples.
China is willing to work with Malaysia to strengthen the docking of development strategies, build the Belt and Road with high quality, expand and strengthen key projects, establish a pilot zone for production capacity cooperation and a pioneer zone for innovation, and help Malaysia give full play to its resources and advantageous location, and upgrade its industrialization, he said.
He added that China stands ready to collaborate with Malaysia to adhere to open regionalism, safeguard the hard-won peace, stability and development in the region, and make greater contributions to development and advancement of humankind.
Wang also met with with Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and pledged to strengthen coordination and connectivity between their countries.
ALSO READ: China, Malaysia to 'collaborate in COVID-19 vaccine research'
During their meeting, Wang said China and Malaysia are strategic partners who enjoy mutually beneficial cooperation and a traditional friendship.
China-Malaysia relations have withstood the test of changes in the international landscape and their domestic situations, and maintained a sound and stable momentum of development, bringing benefit to the two countries and peoples, and contributing to peace and prosperity in the region and the world at large, Wang said.
The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen bilateral cooperation in connectivity, digital economy, green development, and agriculture with Malaysia, Wang said, adding that it encourages and supports Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Malaysia, helping accelerate the industrialization process in the country.
For his part, Ismail Sabri said Malaysia is the first ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) country establishing diplomatic ties with China, and has seen fruitful results from bilateral practical cooperation and smooth progress in major projects.
Malaysia is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation and connectivity in various fields, and explore an active role in the pan-Asian railway cooperation, he said.
ALSO READ: China's help to Malaysia with jab efforts lauded
Ismail Sabri said he welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia and conduct cooperation in 5G and other high-tech areas, helping the country realize innovative, inclusive and sustainable development.
Wang also said on Tuesday that China and Malaysia have reached a five-point consensus on further developing their relations.
At a joint press conference with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah after their meeting, Wang said China-Malaysia ties are witnessing new opportunities for development.
China is ready to work with Malaysia to set new goals and priorities for bilateral relations so as to elevate their ties to a new high, he said, noting that both sides have reached a series of important consensuses.
The two sides have reached a political consensus on safeguarding regional peace and stability. They will jointly advocate true multilateralism, practice open regionalism, uphold the ASEAN centrality, reject bloc rivalry and the Cold War mentality, speed up consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace and cooperation.
READ MORE: M'sia PM lauds China's role in upholding global trading system
China is ready to work with its ASEAN partners, including Malaysia, to deepen their strategic mutual trust and strengthen strategic coordination, so as to maintain regional stability and work for common development, Wang said.
Wang wrapped up his Asia tour Tuesday, which has taken him to Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.