TODAY marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Malaysia.
The two countries, having been good friends and friendly neighbours for thousands of years, started a brand new journey in 1974, based on the principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. These 48 years have witnessed our sturdy friendship and genuine brotherhood tested and consolidated by challenges and difficulties.
Mutual respect and trust are the cornerstones of the good relations between China and Malaysia. Generations of leaders from both countries have contributed enormously in enhancing the friendly relations between the two countries.
Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob both attended the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-Asean Dialogue Relations, which gave great impetus to upgrading China-Asean relations.
China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who co-chaired the first China-Malaysia High Level Committee Meeting, achieved an important consensus of jointly elevating the two countries’ bilateral relations to a new height in the post-Covid19 era.
Mutual benefit is the highlight of China-Malaysia cooperation. Since the day the two countries established diplomatic relations, they have carried out pragmatic cooperation in various sectors, which have achieved steady advancement, bucking the pandemic to achieve growth.
In 2021, China-Malaysia bilateral trade hit a record high, rising 34.5 per cent to US$176.8 billion, with China being Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years.
China’s investment in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector reached US$3.98 billion, creating about 14,000 jobs in Malaysia.
High quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which had achieved nearly 30 per cent fulfilment despite the Covid-19 pandemic, will act as a strong driving force to prosper the local economy and bring benefits to local people.
Mutual assistance is the bedrock of China-Malaysia ties. The well known story of Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho), who had visited Melaka five times during his seven voyages, is a good example to prove the thousand-years-long friendship between the two countries.
From the start of diplomatic relations 48 years ago, the two countries have weathered through thick and thin, setting a model of true good neighbourliness for regional countries.
When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in China, Malaysia helped send essential supplies to China. In the same way, China sent millions of Chinese-made vaccines to assist Malaysia’s Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme, which was crucial to curb the pandemic and effectively protect Malaysians.
Now, the world is undergoing complex and profound changes. Despite multiple instabilities and uncertainties, China is determined to keep its high-quality development mode, which acts as a strong force to maintain and ensure the global economy can develop in a positive manner.
Malaysia is now focusing on implementing the 12th Malaysia Plan, while striving hard to achieve the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
Looking ahead, China and Malaysia will seize the opportunities and address the challenges together to enhance bilateral relations and make greater contributions to the world.
With joint efforts, China and Malaysia will continue to strive for common development and achieve a better shared future. China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia in many aspects, by better coordinating development strategies; further exploring full-chain cooperation in the development, production and clinical trials of human vaccines, and preparing to establish a regional vaccine development centre in Malaysia.
Also, by further boosting cooperation in traditional industries, such as electrical and electronic industries, automotive manufacturing, chemical smelting, as well as railways and ports; tapping into the development potential of emerging industries such as the digital economy, green development, e-commerce and cybersecurity, and also by enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
All of these will help to promote the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.
Through practical measures, China and Malaysia will continue to maintain peace and promote cooperation in both the region and the world.
Faced with unprecedented changes in the world, President Xi had proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI), calling for building a community with a shared future for all mankind. GSI and GDI are the Chinese keys to solving the world’s security and development puzzles.
China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia to practise true multilateralism, strengthen the Asean-centred open and inclusive regional framework, and jointly address both regional and international security challenges based on the concept of maintaining peace as the priority.
China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia to ensure that regional cooperation moves in the right direction, to jointly benefit from the development opportunities brought about by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and accelerate the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together, we will build a peaceful, safe, secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.
The writer, H.E. Ouyang Yujing , is China’s ambassador to Malaysia.(NST)
