China factor in the Asean stage

Close ties: Najib shaking hands with Xi during a photocall at the Apec summit in Manila. Both leaders have held six meetings and three special dinners in the last two years. — Bernama

Beijing has always viewed Kuala Lumpur as a special friend given the long relationship the two countries have shared. For Malaysia and China, the focus should be on the convergence of interests.

MALAYSIA has been very quiet on issues relating to the South China Sea (SCS) – Kuala Lumpur and several Asean nations, as well as China, have laid overlapping claims on it – but analysts opine Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is unlikely to change his pro-China stance anytime soon.