BEIJING: Malaysia must translate its strong ties with China into tangible benefits, including better jobs, advanced technology and stronger economic growth, say analysts.
Malaysia-China Friendship Association president Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s five-day working visit to China until Oct 16 offers an opportunity to build on high-level exchanges between the two countries.
“Malaysia must ensure greater and more impactful outcomes from its strong political ties with China.
“It needs to strategise the sectors in which China can act as a catalyst for driving gross domestic product growth,” he said when contacted.
Abdul Majid said specific projects, targeted research initiatives and skills development programmes were needed to translate bilateral cooperation into tangible outcomes and meet future workforce needs.
Geopolitical expert Dr Azmi Hassan said Ahmad Zahid’s visit should go beyond TVET cooperation to cover trade, high-tech investments and technology transfer.
He said the visit could help sustain Chinese investor interest in Malaysia, particularly in emerging fields such as AI.
While TVET remained a key focus, Azmi said the visit’s broader success would depend on whether discussions led to sustained investments, access to advanced technology and stronger trade ties.
KRA Group political risk consultant Amir Fareed Rahim said the visit signalled continuity and momentum in high-level Malaysia-China engagement, against the backdrop of shifting US-China relations and China’s importance to Malaysia’s economy.
“However, deeper ties with China should not be seen as Malaysia aligning itself with any major power. Malaysia’s strategic autonomy means engaging China where interests converge while maintaining equally strong relationships with the United States, Asean, the European Union and other partners.
“The objective is to maximise Malaysia’s economic and strategic interests without becoming overly dependent on any single country,” he said.
Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad said Ahmad Zahid, who arrived here yesterday, would meet Chinese leaders in Beijing before travelling to Tianjin for the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2026.
His engagements in Beijing include a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, scheduled for Oct 15 at the Great Hall of the People, and a meeting with Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.
Norman said the meeting with Ding would focus on strengthening existing cooperation and exploring opportunities in investment, technology, human capital and TVET.
In Tianjin, Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng before delivering a keynote address at the conference’s opening session on Oct 16.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, is expected to be the highest-ranking foreign government representative at the conference, which will bring together 21 ministers and deputy ministers from other countries, with participation from more than 100 countries.
The visit is his third to China since becoming Deputy Prime Minister in December 2022.
Malaysia and China established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1974, with China remaining Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009.
Bilateral trade reached RM541.54bil in 2025, accounting for 17.7% of Malaysia’s total trade of RM3.061 trillion.
Trade between the two countries rose 35.1% to RM456.68bil in the January-to-August period this year compared with the corresponding period last year.
