In a heartfelt exchange marking half a century of diplomatic relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar expressed mutual admiration and a commitment to further strengthen ties between their nations.
On Friday, both leaders exchanged congratulatory messages highlighting the deep-rooted friendship and cooperative partnership that has blossomed over the past 50 years. President Xi emphasized the millennium-old bond between the two countries, describing China and Malaysia as “neighbors with a longstanding friendship, friends whose hearts are connected, and partners for win-win cooperation.”
“Over the past half-century, our nations have always treated each other with sincerity, supported one another, and sought development together,” Xi stated. He noted that China-Malaysia relations have consistently been at the forefront among regional countries.
Highlighting recent progress, Xi mentioned the 2023 consensus on building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, ushering in a new historical phase in bilateral relations. “The friendship between China and Malaysia is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, providing an inexhaustible driving force for the continuous development of our relations,” he added.
President Xi also shared a personal anecdote about receiving a letter from Malaysian students studying at Tianjin University. These students expressed their determination to serve as messengers of China-Malaysia friendship and to contribute their knowledge towards building a shared future. “I am pleased to see that the cause of friendship between our countries will be carried on by future generations,” Xi remarked.
King Sultan Ibrahim, in his message, reflected on the mutual respect and trust that have characterized Malaysia-China relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1974. “Our bilateral relations have constantly achieved new development,” he said. The King highlighted the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2013, which has further deepened cooperation in economy and trade, investment, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
“Malaysia will always work hand in hand with China to bring prosperity and deliver benefits to our peoples,” the King affirmed, emphasizing the significance of their continued collaboration.
In a parallel exchange, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also conveyed their congratulations. Premier Li expressed China’s readiness to deepen the alignment of development strategies and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Malaysia. “We aim to promote understanding and bonding between our peoples to enrich the connotation of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future,” Li stated.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim echoed these sentiments, noting that Malaysia and China have made milestone achievements based on mutual respect and trust. He underscored the importance of high-level visits and the variety of events organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary, which “fully demonstrates the high-level and strategic significance of our partnership.”
As China and Malaysia embark on the next 50 years of their relationship, both nations reaffirm their commitment to fostering regional prosperity and stability, signaling a bright future for their collaborative endeavors.
Reference(s):
Xi, Malaysian king exchange congratulations on 50-year diplomatic ties
cgtn.com
