Photo: Screenshot from website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan on Thursday. Wang said China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Malaysia, stand up for justice on the international stage, oppose unilateralism and bullying, and defend the common interests of the Global South.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, making it an important year for carrying forward the past and ushering in the future. 

The two countries are friendly neighbors, and their traditional friendship remains unbreakable. Over the past half century of diplomatic relations, no matter how the international situation has changed, China and Malaysia have always maintained mutual trust and assistance, and have always been good and true friends. China will firmly support Malaysia in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, and support Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in promoting the concept of "Prosperous Malaysia." China will also enhance high-level exchanges with Malaysia, work together to seek development, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and bring benefits to the people of both countries, said Wang. 

Wang said China is currently accelerating its high-quality development, and Malaysia is also developing its emerging industries. There is great potential for cooperation between China and Malaysia. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and the cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has yielded fruitful results. 

Both countries need to accelerate cooperation in infrastructure, the digital economy, green development, and new energy vehicles, said Wang. They also need to promote the high-quality development of the "Two Countries, Two Parks" Joint Cooperation, carry out poverty reduction projects and party-to-party exchanges, and continuously advance bilateral relations. 

Malaysia is an important member of ASEAN, a representative of emerging economies, and a stable force in the Muslim world. The two countries have always supported each other in upholding core interests and national dignity, Wang added.

Wang said China insists on making the development of China-Malaysia relations a priority in its peripheral diplomacy, and is willing to work with Malaysia to implement the consensus of the leaders of the two countries. The two countries should also deepen high-quality cooperation in the BRI, take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, and take the construction of a community of shared destiny between China and Malaysia as a guide. 

For his part, the Malaysian foreign minister said that Malaysia-China friendship cannot be interfered with or undermined by any external forces as it spans thousands of years.

Malaysia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and opposes external forces stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.  

Over the past 50 years of diplomatic relations, China has always been a reliable friend and partner. Malaysia is willing to learn from China's experience in development and poverty reduction, and deepen cooperation in the fields of energy transformation, the digital economy, agriculture, tourism and other areas, so as to create a better future for the relationship between the two countries. 

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. Hasan said Malaysia highly appreciates China's impartial stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict and firmly advocates a proper solution to the Palestinian issue with a "two-state solution." 

In response, Wang expressed China’s hope for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.