KUALA LUMPUR: China–Malaysia trade hit US$191.66bil (RM756.6bil) in 2025, says Ouyang Yujing.
The Chinese ambassador to Malaysia described it as “an impressive achievement against the backdrop of global economic downturn,” saying it showed the strength and resilience of ties between both countries.
He said China’s own economy continued to show strong momentum last year, with gross domestic product (GDP) surpassing 140 trillion yuan and growing 5% from 2024, contributing around 30% to global economic growth.
“The Chinese economy has its own vibrancy,” he said, noting that in 2025 more than 500 million parcels were delivered in China every day and over 10 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity were consumed.
He said this when speaking at the 2026 Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Chinese embassy here on Friday (Feb 6).
Ouyang said 2025 was a year in which China’s scientific and technological progress brought greater benefits to the world.
China, he added, became the first country with more than five million active invention patents and now runs the largest number of large-scale artificial intelligence models, while also having built the world’s largest renewable energy system.
Last year, China’s new energy vehicle production and sales topped 16 million units, 5G subscribers exceeded 1.2 billion, and research and development on 6G passed its first-phase technical trials.
Ouyang said 2025 was also a year of China sharing more development opportunities with the international community.
China remained the major trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions and the main export market for 79 of them, he noted.
China’s imports of goods totalled 18.5 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for nearly 10% of global imports, while visa-free foreign visits to China rose to 30.08 million – nearly 50% higher than the year before.
The envoy said China had also tried to inject “certainty into an uncertain world”.
He pointed to President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), launched in late 2025 and welcomed by more than 150 countries and international organisations, as an example of Beijing’s efforts to share its ideas on better global governance.
China also hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit and the Global Women’s Summit last year, which Ouyang said helped promote peace, cooperation and friendship worldwide.
On bilateral ties, Ouyang described 2025 as a milestone year for China–Malaysia relations.
The highlight, he said, was Xi’s state visit to Malaysia – his second visit after a gap of 12 years.
“During this visit, a joint statement was made showing the two countries’ commitment to jointly building the high-level strategic China–Malaysia community with a shared future,” he said.
This, he added, opened a “new phase” in the development of bilateral ties, which he described as being at their “best ever in history.” He also noted that 2025 saw Chinese Premier Li Qiang visiting Malaysia twice, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made his fourth visit to China since taking office, further deepening cooperation.
On the economic front, Ouyang said practical cooperation continued to bring real benefits to people in both countries.
Besides the US$191.66bil in trade, he highlighted that China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years.
He said work on the China-backed East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) has now reached 91% completion, while the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” project between industrial parks in both countries is undergoing further upgrading.
The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia hosted a Chinese New Year reception bringing together political, business, education and cultural leaders from both countries to celebrate the coming Year of the Horse.
