Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
ALDAR/
Chinese President Xi Jinping was hosted on Tuesday, April 16, by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at his official residence in Putrajaya. The two leaders held bilateral talks in a warm atmosphere marked by a remarkable official and popular reception, reflecting the strength of ties between the two countries. Malaysian youths lined the roads waving the flags of China and Malaysia, accompanied by the beat of drums and traditional dances performed in honor of the Chinese president.
At the beginning of the meeting, Xi Jinping emphasized the deep historical relationship between China and Malaysia, noting that the ties between the two nations are not recent, but rather the result of centuries of cultural exchange and fruitful cooperation. He stated that this longstanding relationship has become a model for international relations. He highlighted the remarkable progress achieved in bilateral relations over the past 50 years and called for intensified efforts to build a high-level China-Malaysia community with a shared future, benefiting both peoples and contributing to regional stability and prosperity.
Xi Jinping laid out a three-pronged vision to enhance the partnership between the two nations. He stressed the importance of maintaining strategic independence for both countries, enhancing cooperation in the fields of security and defense, and establishing a new diplomatic and security dialogue mechanism. He also called for stronger collaboration in key areas such as the digital economy, green economy, artificial intelligence, and the joint development of supply and production chains. On the cultural front, he proposed advancing dialogue between Confucian and Islamic civilizations, as well as expanding cooperation in tourism, education, arts, and media, building on the mutual visa exemption agreement.
For his part, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warmly welcomed President Xi, affirming that China has always been a sincere and reliable partner for Malaysia, providing genuine support during various crises. He praised Xi’s vision in leading China toward prosperity and poverty eradication, reaffirming Malaysia’s firm commitment to the One-China policy and its strong opposition to any separatist tendencies related to Taiwan.
The Malaysian Prime Minister noted that this visit marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations, resulting in an unprecedented number of agreements and memorandums of understanding — over thirty — covering areas such as security, the digital economy, intellectual property, agriculture, scientific research, transportation, and the conservation of giant pandas.
Anwar also reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to deepening political coordination with China, expanding investment, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He highlighted Malaysia’s aspiration to play a key role in strengthening cooperation between China and ASEAN during its current chairmanship, particularly in the face of global economic challenges and unilateral tendencies.
The meeting concluded with an official dinner hosted by the Malaysian Prime Minister in honor of his distinguished guest, in a celebratory atmosphere that underscored the depth of friendship between the two peoples.
