Building a China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future
The building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future is progressing steadily, said Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing in a recent written interview with Xinhua.
A Lasting Friendship
Under the guidance of their leaders, China and Malaysia will continue to be close neighbours bound by enduring friendship, sincere partners in shared development, brotherly friends and an important force for peace, ushering in an even brighter future for bilateral relations, Ouyang said.
A Robust and Resilient Relationship
China-Malaysia relations have remained robust and resilient over more than half a century, he said.
From Sapling to Towering Tree
In the early days of diplomatic ties, Malaysian leaders compared the relationship to a "newly planted sapling." Today, it has grown into a towering tree with deep roots and flourishing branches, showing that the two countries are together making great strides toward a shared future.
High-Level Exchanges
According to Xinhua, Ouyang highlighted high-level exchanges as the key driver in forging a China-Malaysia community with a shared future anchored in deep mutual trust.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2023, President Xi met with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Beijing, where the two sides agreed to jointly build a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, mapping out the blueprint for bilateral relations.
Practical Cooperation
Practical cooperation is the cornerstone of building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future featuring mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, said Ouyang.
Economic Cooperation
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Malaysia remains China’s second-largest trading partner and the largest source of imports within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record high of US$212.04 billion, marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase.
Malaysian Products in China
Malaysian products are highly popular in China, particularly fresh durian, Ouyang said.
Investment and Cooperation
Malaysia is one of China’s key destinations for direct investment, with strong momentum in cooperation on new quality productive forces, he said, citing examples like Chinese new energy vehicles that are well-received in Malaysia, along with data centres established by Chinese firms.
People-to-People Exchanges
Ouyang also underscored the vital role of people-to-people exchanges in building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future rooted in mutual understanding.
Historical Ties
Historical ties link the two peoples, as the stories of Chinese navigator Zheng He’s five visits to Malacca during his seven maritime expeditions are well-known in Malaysia.
Tourism and Cultural Exchange
Following the implementation of mutual visa exemption policies in late 2023, Malaysia welcomed nearly 3.8 million Chinese tourists in 2024, with weekly flights between the two countries exceeding 500, Ouyang said. Just last month, the Chinese movie Ne Zha 2 premiered in Malaysia, where it promptly set new box office records for Chinese films in the market.
ASEAN and China
Ouyang said that China and ASEAN are inseparable as good neighbours, close brothers and trusted partners. With Malaysia assuming the ASEAN rotating chairmanship for 2025, the Chinese ambassador expressed the hope that ASEAN, which has long championed multilateralism and open policies, will work hand-in-hand with China to advance along the path of good-neighbourly friendship and shared prosperity.
Conclusion
The ambassador expressed confidence that through joint efforts, China and ASEAN will continue to advance their friendly cooperation, making greater contributions to building a more prosperous and beautiful region and world.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of China-Malaysia relations?
A: The building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future is progressing steadily, with high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges being key drivers.
Q: What is the significance of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia?
A: The partnership has elevated bilateral relations and created a framework for cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
Q: What are the prospects for ASEAN-China cooperation?
A: The Chinese ambassador expressed confidence that ASEAN and China will continue to advance their friendly cooperation, making greater contributions to building a more prosperous and beautiful region and world.