Chinese, Malaysian leaders vow to further advance bilateral links
- Source: Xinhua
- [20:23 November 11 2009]
- Comments
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 10, 2009.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak agreed on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur to jointly advance their strategic and cooperative relations.
Hu said that, in the 35 years since China and Malaysia established diplomatic ties, bilateral relations had been increasingly mature with substantial cooperation results in all fields.
In 2004, the two nations established strategic cooperation relations, resulting in greater mutual trust and increased trade cooperation, Hu said. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded 53 billion US dollars and Malaysia had become China's biggest trading partner among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Mutual investment, cooperation in energy, infrastructure, education, culture, and defense had been fruitful, Hu said.
China and Malaysia had also worked closely on major international and regional issues, Hu said. China highly appreciated Malaysia's firm support to China on its core issues, such as Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.
Hu said leaders of the two countries had always perceived and handled bilateral relations from a strategic level and long-term perspective. Leaders from both sides had actively pushed forward practical cooperation in all fields and added strong impetus to the growth of bilateral links.
China and Malaysia should earnestly implement their joint action plan of strategic cooperation by actively exploring new areas of cooperation for common development, said Hu during his talks with Najib.
He put forward four proposals in advancing the bilateral links between China and Malaysia. First, efforts should be made to deepen the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The two nations should make full use of the favorable conditions of the China-ASEAN free trade zone to be built next year, by exploring their cooperative potential and promoting the steady growth of bilateral trade.
Calling for more cooperation in investment between the two sides, Hu encouraged Chinese companies to take part in infrastructure projects in Malaysia. He also urged more cooperation with Malaysia in energy and finance sectors.
Second, the two countries should deepen their cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, Hu said, adding that more young people from Malaysia were welcome to study in China.
The president hoped the two sides worked closely to further improve the Confucius School in Malaysia and looked forward to an impressive show by Malaysia at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
Hu also called for more cooperation with Malaysia in defense and security, and on major regional and world affairs.
China attached great importance to the role Malaysia had been playing in ASEAN, the Islamic world and developing countries, Hu said.
China would, as always, support the ASEAN integration process and the development of the ASEAN Community, he said. China would continue to actively expand friendly cooperation with Islamic nations and work with them to safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, the Chinese leader added.
