Enhancing BRI ‘main focus’ for China-M’sia relationship

KUALA LUMPUR: Gearing up to celebrate half a century of friendship, Malaysia and China are strengthening their bond further by elevating political trust and enhancing cooperation, with a focus on advancing high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Chinese Embassy charge d’affaires Zheng Xuefang said the country views the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in May next year as a momentous opportunity.

“(We can) deepen political trust, promote high-quality BRI collaboration, foster mutual cooperation and people-to-people connection.

“The two nations aim to achieve a deeper and more substantive progression toward a China-Malaysia community with a shared future,” he said yesterday at a media briefing session.

Zheng said Malaysia is the first Asean country to set up diplomatic ties with China.

“It is a friend and a priority in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy,” he said, adding that the strong relationship between the two countries had placed the world’s second largest economy in a significant position in its dealings with Asean.

He said China achieved an impressive GDP growth rate of 5.5% in the first half of this year.

“The strong economic growth has created global sustainable development, not only for Malaysia but the whole world,” he said.

On the South China Sea, Zheng said cooperative efforts between China, Malaysia and other Asean countries had contributed to stability in the area.

He emphasised that the sea is a shared resource and that collective action is crucial to protect and preserve it.

He said China and Asean had shown commitment to regional stability by signing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea back in 2002.