Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future during talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya.
Xi arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday for a state visit during his five-day, three-nation Southeast Asia tour.
As his motorcade arrived at Anwar's official residence, Xi received a warm welcome with flag-waving children greeting him and an enthusiastic drum and dance performance held in the president's honor.
Afterward, Xi and Anwar sat down for talks on bilateral relations and other major issues of common concern.
Xi said that the traditional friendship between China and Malaysia has spanned a thousand years. Nurtured in a long and rich history, the friendship has grown through cultural exchanges, been consolidated through mutual benefit and elevated through solidarity against challenges, Xi added.
It reflects a pursuit of common values, characterized by sincere interactions, honesty, commitment to righteousness, and respect for peace, the Chinese president continued.
This friendship, he said, embodies the historical wisdom and courage of both peoples and is shared treasure for the two nations.
Last year, both sides celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past 50 years, China-Malaysia relations have yielded fruitful results, Xi said.
In the next 50 years, Xi called on both sides to continue to seize opportunities, stand at the forefront of the times, build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, deliver more benefits to the two peoples, and further contribute to regional prosperity and stability.
Xi put forward a three-point proposal on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
First, Xi urged the two countries to adhere to strategic independence and carry out high-level strategic coordination.
China and Malaysia both uphold self-reliance and strength, and firmly oppose external interference, Xi said.
The two countries should continue to work hand in hand to pursue development paths suited to their national conditions, resolutely support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests, and keep their future firmly in their own hands, he said.
Xi called on the two sides to establish a "2+2" dialogue mechanism on diplomacy and national defense to deepen exchanges and cooperation on national security, defense and law enforcement.
Second, China and Malaysia should build synergy for development and set a model for high-quality development cooperation, Xi said.
He said China is committed to advancing modernization in all respects through high-quality development, which aligns with Malaysia's Madani Economy framework.
The two countries should join hands in fostering growth in cutting-edge areas such as the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and artificial intelligence, and in strengthening integrated development across industrial chains, supply chains, value chains, data chains and talent networks, Xi said.
The two sides should upgrade traditional areas of cooperation and promote two-way investment, Xi said, adding that efforts should be made to advance sea-rail intermodal transport, enhance the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program, and elevate Malaysia's key ports into pivotal hubs of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Third, Xi called for both sides to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations.
China and Malaysia should collaborate on the Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue to jointly build a platform for cultural exchanges between the two countries and even in the whole region, Xi said.
With the mutual visa exemption agreement, the two sides should vigorously promote tourism, youth, and sub-national exchanges, and deepen cooperation in culture, education, sports, film and media to foster people-to-people bonds and carry forward traditional friendship, he said.
China stands ready to continue joint research with Malaysia on panda conservation, Xi said.
Xi pointed out that Malaysia has set the theme of the ASEAN chairmanship this year as "Inclusivity and Sustainability," which reflects a deep insight into the current situation.
China supports Malaysia in playing its role as ASEAN's rotating chair, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to work with countries in the region to sign the upgrade protocol of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at an early date.
Xi urged joint efforts to resist decoupling, supply chain disruptions, "small yard with high fences" and arbitrary imposition of tariffs with openness, inclusiveness, unity and cooperation.
He also called for responding to the law of the jungle with Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and responding to the unstable and uncertain world with stable and certain Asia.
Anwar, during the talks, noted that China has sincerely helped and shared weal and woe with Malaysia for a long time, calling the country a trustworthy friend of Malaysia.
He praised China's great achievement won under Xi's leadership, calling Xi an outstanding leader in the world today.
He highlighted the record-breaking cooperation results achieved during President Xi's current visit are of great significance to the Malaysian side, and Malaysia is deeply encouraged.
Malaysia firmly abides by the one-China policy and does not support any activities attempting to split Taiwan from China, said the prime minister.
Malaysia is willing to deepen strategic communication and consolidate political mutual trust with China, expand bilateral trade, Anwar said, adding that the country also welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Malaysia as well as explore cooperation with Malaysia in digital economy, green economy, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Malaysia is also willing to increase cultural, educational, tourism, and other people-to-people exchanges with China to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the PM said.
In the face of rising protectionism, Malaysia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly cope with risks and challenges, Anwar stressed.
ASEAN does not endorse any unilateral imposition of tariffs and will strengthen itself through cooperation and unity to maintain economic growth, he pledged.
The Malaysian side highly appreciates the positive role China plays in international and regional affairs, Anwar said, adding that he believes Malaysia, as the rotating chair of ASEAN and country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialog Relations, will help push for greater ASEAN-China cooperation.
After the talks, Xi and Anwar jointly witnessed the exchange of over 30 cooperation documents covering a wide range of areas such as digital economy, service trade, artificial intelligence, railway, and protection of giant pandas.
The two sides also released a joint statement on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
In the evening, Xi attended a welcome banquet hosted by Anwar.
Xi puts forward three-point proposal on building high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future
Xi puts forward three-point proposal on building high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future
