PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and China have agreed to strengthen strategic coordination and expressed firm support for each other’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, says Wisma Putra.
In a joint statement issued in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, both countries committed to promoting national unity, stability, and development, and announced the establishment of a Joint Foreign and Defence Dialogue Mechanism to enhance policy coordination and cooperation in the areas of security and defence.
"On the economic front, Malaysia and China pledged to deepen development cooperation, focusing on the digital, green, blue, and tourism economies," the Foreign Ministry's communication and public diplomacy division said in a statement on Thursday (April 17).
Both sides also agreed to boost collaboration across industrial, supply, value, data, and talent chains, and to implement the Five-Year Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024–2028).
"They noted with satisfaction the nearly thousand-fold increase in bilateral trade since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1974," it said.
On Wednesday (April 16), Malaysia and China signed 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs), notes and cooperation agreements with the highlight being a mutual visa exemption for travellers between the two countries.
Currently, Malaysians can travel to China visa-free until Dec 31 this year, while Chinese nationals enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia until Dec 31 next year.
The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Xi.
The exemption was in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
Xi began his visit on Tuesday (April 15) at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
This visit was Xi's second to Malaysia in 12 years, after the last one in 2013, which saw the two countries upgrade diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Xi has departed Malaysia for Cambodia today after concluding a three-day state visit.
