BEIJING: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived here on Monday (Oct 12) for a five-day working visit to Beijing and Tianjin, China, to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across key sectors.
The aircraft carrying the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation landed at about 6.20pm local time (6.20pm Malaysian time) on Monday (Oct 12).
He was welcomed by Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad and the Deputy Prime Minister's senior private secretary, Datuk Mohd Zaki Sahrudin.
Liu Yong, Deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Chinese Ministry of Education was also present to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister.
The visit builds on the momentum generated by the 2025 joint statement on building a high-level strategic Malaysia-China community with a shared future, Wisma Putra said in an earlier statement.
Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to meet senior Chinese leaders, including Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, in Beijing.
Norman said Ahmad Zahid would hold a series of meetings with Chinese leaders before travelling to Tianjin for a conference.
The meeting with Ding is scheduled for Oct 15 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where both sides are expected to discuss strengthening existing cooperation and exploring new opportunities in investment, technology, human capital and TVET, he said.
In Tianjin, Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng before delivering a keynote address at the opening session of WVTEDC 2026 on Oct 16.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also National TVET Council chairman, is expected to be the highest-ranking foreign government representative at the conference, which will bring together 21 foreign ministers and deputy ministers, with participation from more than 100 countries.
The visit will also feature one-to-one business meetings with leading Chinese companies and visits to major firms, providing opportunities to exchange knowledge and best practices in TVET, digital technology, the green economy and renewable energy.
This is Ahmad Zahid's third visit to China since becoming Deputy Prime Minister in December 2022.
Malaysia-China trade rose 35.1% to RM456.68bil in the January-to-August period this year compared with the corresponding period last year.
