KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China’s strengthening relationship provides much-needed economic security and strategic clarity amid global uncertainty, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president highlighted the economic partnership as a stabilising force in the face of geopolitical fragmentation and rising protectionism.
“In these uncertain times, the Malaysia–China relationship offers rare clarity and predictability,” Dr Wee said, emphasising the economic synergy between the two nations.
“China leads globally in innovation and manufacturing, while Malaysia holds a pivotal position in regional supply chains. We are seeing more and more local SMEs benefiting from collaboration in areas such as e-commerce, green technology, logistics, and digital trade,” he said, noting that this synergy is creating new growth opportunities for both nations.
He added that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aligns closely with Malaysia’s national development priorities.
“We are confident that both sides can work together to become anchors of peace and progress in the region,” he said during his opening speech at the **Kuala Lumpur Dialogue 2025: Envisioning the Future** event here on Thursday (April 17).
The event was organised by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP), the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), and supported by the Fusion Institute, Malaysia-China Welfare Advisory Society, and Bait Al-Amanah.
This year’s edition coincides with the official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Malaysia — a moment Dr Wee described as both “symbolic and strategically significant.”
“It reflects China’s strong commitment to the bilateral relationship and signals the dawn of a new phase — one of deeper trust and broader cooperation,” he said.
Citing major initiatives such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and emerging sectors like the green economy and digital innovation, Dr Wee said the visit reaffirms the shared ambition to build a high-quality, high-trust partnership.
On educational ties, Dr Wee pointed to the deepening academic collaboration between the two countries, with a growing number of Chinese students choosing Malaysia as their study destination.
“Based on the latest figures, the number of Chinese students in Malaysia has surpassed 45,000 — a significant increase in just a few years,” he said.
He also emphasised Malaysia’s unique position as the only country outside China to have a complete Chinese-medium education system, calling it a distinct advantage in cultural diplomacy and soft power engagement.
Dr Wee expressed his appreciation to INSAP and ACCWS for jointly hosting the event.
“The Kuala Lumpur Dialogue is not just a conference; it is a bridge of ideas, a platform for mutual understanding, and a channel for sustained engagement between policy leaders, scholars, institutions, and civil society from both Malaysia and China,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the forum would evolve into an annual platform supporting long-term policy thinking, research collaboration, and candid dialogue between the two nations.
The event began with a moment of silence in memory of Malaysia’s fifth prime minister, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who passed away aged 85 at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 7.10pm on Monday.
