KUALA LUMPUR: China and Malaysia are opening a new chapter for “the next 50 years of relations” after more than half a century of diplomatic ties, says Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.
“We have completed the first 50 years since China and Malaysia established diplomatic relations, and now we are moving into the next 50,” he said.
He said the relationship between the two countries was “very strong” and had entered a new stage following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia last year when both sides agreed to build a high-level China–Malaysia community with a shared future.
“At the government level, ties are very close. Last year alone, President Xi paid a state visit to Malaysia, Premier Li Qiang visited Malaysia twice, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited China,” he said.
Economic links also hit fresh highs, he added, with bilateral trade reaching about US$200bil (RM814bil), while investment and people-to-people exchanges continued to grow.
“Last year, about 4.77 million Chinese visitors came to Malaysia, including Chinese business and government delegations.
“These figures show how close our relationship is,” he said in his speech at the Open Day of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia yesterday held in conjunction with the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The event was attended by students from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the International Islamic University Malaysia, as well as Malaysian and Chinese media.
Ouyang traced China–Malaysia ties back over a millennium, citing the journeys of Buddhist monk Yijing during the Tang Dynasty and Admiral Zheng He’s multiple visits to Melaka during the Ming Dynasty as early foundations of contact across the seas.
“Over the past 52 years since diplomatic ties were established in 1974, China and Malaysia have been trusted brothers, close friends, good neighbours and reliable partners,” he said.
Under the “strategic guidance” of the leaders of both countries, he said, political trust had deepened, economic cooperation had produced “win-win” results and people-to-people exchanges had intensified.
“In 2026, as China begins its 15th Five-Year Plan and Malaysia embarks on the 13th Malaysia Plan, China will continue to work closely with Malaysia to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders and further advance the building of a high-level China–Malaysia community with a shared future.”
Ouyang also highlighted China’s role at the United Nations in promoting dialogue among civilisations, noting that the UN General Assembly had, in 2024, unanimously adopted a China-sponsored resolution designating June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations.
He said the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival – widely celebrated in Malaysia – was an example of “inter-civilisational learning and multi-ethnic harmony”, with traditional Chinese practices such as making rice dumplings (zongzi) and dragon boat racing enriched by local elements.
As such, the embassy prepared materials for guests yesterday to make and taste zongzi as part of the Open Day activities.
He said the embassy would continue to support youth exchanges and academic cooperation between the two countries.
“We believe that, under the guidance of our leaders, China–Malaysia relations will continue to move forward smoothly and reach an even higher level,” he said.
