A signed article by Chinese President Xi Jinping published on Tuesday in leading Malaysian newspapers, which calls to advance China-Malaysia relations through deeper cooperation, has been well received by newspaper editors and other observers in the southeast Asian nation.
The article, titled "May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail toward an Even Brighter Future," was published in Malaysia's Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily, English-language daily The Star, and the Malay-language Sinar Harian newspaper.
"I felt very overwhelmed with the way he's writing and the way he show or regards the relationship between Malaysia and China. And he reflects back the good ties between these two countries since 600 years ago, when the Chinese explorer Zheng He -- or in Malaysia, we call him Cheng Ho -- came to Malaysia. And I think the most beautiful part from the article is actually when he said the relationship between China and Malaysia. He show it as a voyage or sailing of a ship. So he wants this ship to go along together, and firmly we sail firmly together to make sure we're successful in the future," said Zamri Rambli, editor-in-chief of Sinar Harian.
"Any narrative or perspective authored by President Xi Jinping himself, certainly would give us the first-hand information of his thoughts in fostering out regional integration and the international dynamics, for instance. This has been one of the key areas that we all are concerned about," said Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific.
The article's publication coincided with Xi's arrival in Kuala Lumpur as he started a state visit to Malaysia, the second leg of his current three-nation Southeast Asia tour.
Welcoming President Xi, Deputy Director-General of Tourism Malaysia Li Thai Hung said he hopes the visit will steer bilateral relations in the direction of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
"We are very welcome and highlighted with our open hearts and we felt it's grateful we can receive President Xi's coming to Malaysia from the 15th to 17th of April. So this is the second trip of President Xi to Malaysia, and it's historical remarks that will make Malaysia and China have a better strong relationship. From the tourism perspective, we wish that after the visit of President Xi and the team to Malaysia, then Malaysia, we can receive more, surely more Chinese visitors to Malaysia and tourists to Malaysia," Li said.
"I believe that President Xi's visit will further boost cooperations in emerging sectors such as the electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and green energy -- areas that hold great promise for both our nations," said Kuik Cheng Kang, editor-in-chief (Malaysia) of the Media Chinese International Limited.
Xi's five-day trip began with a two-day state visit to Vietnam and will conclude in Cambodia.
Malaysian newspaper editors welcome publication of Xi's signed article
