Malaysia, China to elevate ties to a higher level

BEIJING: Malaysia and China aim to leverage on the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) this year and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year to take the bilateral ties to a higher level.

This include deepening collaborations in various sectors of mutual benefit to the peoples of both countries as well as contributing towards the peace and security, regionally and globally.

The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement here said the commitment was agreed during a meeting between Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang at the latter’s office here, Tuesday (March 28) evening.

The meeting, which was held ahead of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit here this week, was also the first face-to-face engagement between both foreign ministers.

According to the statement, Qin had described Anwar’s inaugural visit to China as of "great significance” that indicates the close ties between the two nations, as the prime minister was one of the first leaders to visit Beijing after President Xi Jinping’s reelection as China’s President for the third term and Premier Li Qiang’s election, earlier this month.

Both ministers also recognized the deep similarities between Anwar’s Malaysia Madani concept and Xi Jinping’s vision of a "Community of Shared Future for Mankind”. They also affirmed the importance of taking concrete steps to leverage one concept on the other.

During the meeting, they also discussed specific projects and initiatives in the economic, trade, investment, educational and agricultural fields which would bring immense benefits to the peoples of both countries.

They had also discussed on the regional and global strategic security issues.- Bernama