New Chinese Ambassador outlines four priorities for China-Malaysia ties

Friends from all walks of life across Malaysia,

It is a great pleasure to be back in Malaysia, a beautiful country known as “Malaysia, Truly Asia” as I step into my new role. After spending years working in the region and visiting Malaysia numerous times, I have always held a special place for this country in my heart. From the iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers to the unforgettable taste of Musang King durian, this vibrant country never fails to leave a lasting impression.

China and Malaysia share a time-honored friendship. Historic chapters like the great navigator Zheng He’s five visits to Malacca and the unwavering support of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics for Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression are etched in our shared memory. As the first Asean member to forge diplomatic ties with China following the Association’s inception, Malaysia also pioneered the growth of China-Asean dialogue. Whether confronting the Asian or global financial crises, or facing the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, our two peoples have always stood by each other, weathering the storms and emerging stronger together.

China-Malaysia relations stand as a shining example of mutual support, shared success, and win-win cooperation between nations. The historic state visit by President Xi Jinping to Malaysia in April 2025 marked a milestone. The consensus to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future officially ushered in the next “Golden 50 Years” of bilateral ties, elevating our relationship to an unprecedented height in history.

Serving as the newly appointed Ambassador of China to Malaysia, my paramount duty is to translate the crucial consensus reached by our top leaders into concrete actions, driving China-Malaysia relations to newer heights. My ultimate goal is to advance all-dimensional cooperation and friendly exchanges, fostering an even closer bond between our two peoples. To this end, I look forward to working hand in hand with our Malaysian friends to pursue four key priorities:

First, we will strive to reinforce political mutual trust and consolidate our all-round friendship. As China vigorously advances national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernisation, Malaysia is making strategic strides under the “Malaysia Madani” vision.

Bound by deeply intertwined interests and highly aligned philosophies, our two nations are uniquely positioned to empower each other’s modernization journeys, deepen strategic mutual trust, and ensure the steady, long-term progress of our high-level strategic community with a shared future.

Second, we will strive to catalyse deeper economic ties and bring greater well-being to both peoples. Delivering a better, happier life for our peoples remains our shared aspiration and highest priority. Driven by our highly complementary economies, the potential for future cooperation is immense. Together, we must advance the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative—consolidating ties in traditional sectors like infrastructure and trade, while unlocking new frontiers in AI and semiconductors to bring more tangible benefits to both peoples.

Third, we will strive to deepen people-to-people ties and cultivate enduring bonds of friendship. Amity between nations holds the key to sound relations, and such amity springs from the heart-to-heart connections of their peoples. The true strength of China-Malaysia friendship lies in its deep roots across our societies and within the hearts of our people. Leveraging our mutual visa-free policy and the golden opportunity of “Visit Malaysia Year 2026”, we should successfully host the Confucian-Islamic Civilisational Dialogues and expand robust cooperation in education, culture, healthcare, tourism, and sub-national exchanges—thereby facilitating seamless travel and bringing our two peoples closer in both heart and mind.

Fourth, we will strive to strengthen multilateral coordination and champion international fairness and justice. We are living through a period of profound changes unseen in a century, amidst a noticeable rise in unilateralism and power politics. The hard truth remains: humanity is bound to a shared future—for better or worse—an unstoppable trend of our times. Together, China and Malaysia must uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, champion international fairness and justice, and amplify the voice of the Global South to forge a more equitable global governance system. By staying committed to openness and development, and pioneering rules for emerging domains, we can inject much-needed certainty into a world fraught with turbulence and volatility.

As the future of China-Malaysia relations unfolds and the call for progress rings out, we are entrusted with a mission of profound urgency.

Embracing this new chapter in our bilateral ties, I am fully committed to honoring and carrying forward the remarkable legacy of my predecessors. Hand in hand with our Malaysian friends across all walks of life, we will foster dialogue, share insights, pool our wisdom, and deepen comprehensive cooperation.

Together, we will cement our unbreakable bond and bring enduring prosperity to both peoples for generations to come.

Written Address by Ambassador Yao Wen upon arrival at KLIA