Xi lauds fruitful ties with Malaysia

Beijing and Kuala Lumpur agreed on Wednesday to jointly build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future by enhancing political mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation and expanding cultural exchanges, as the two countries usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

The two sides also expressed opposition to the unilateral imposition of tariffs and vowed to strengthen regional cooperation in the face of the world's instability and uncertainty.

The consensuses were reached when President Xi Jinping held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Xi is making a three-day state visit to the Southeast Asian country, the second leg of his three-nation tour of the region.

After the meeting, the two leaders jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 30 documents on bilateral cooperation, covering areas such as the digital economy, services trade, joint laboratories, artificial intelligence, mutual visa exemptions and giant panda conservation.

During the meeting, Xi spoke highly of the fruitful results of bilateral ties over the past five decades, saying that the two countries should continue to deliver more benefits to their peoples and make greater contributions to regional prosperity and stability.

As friendly neighbors across the sea, China and Malaysia enjoy a traditional friendship spanning more than a thousand years. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974, bilateral trade has expanded nearly thousandfold to reach $212 billion last year. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years and is also a top source of foreign direct investment.

Xi stressed the importance of the two countries upholding strategic autonomy, saying that China and Malaysia should continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in national security, defense and law enforcement.

In order to create a benchmark for high-quality development cooperation, Xi called on the two sides to cultivate and strengthen cooperation in cutting-edge areas such as the digital economy and the green economy, and enhance the integrated development of chains related to industry, supply, value, data and talented people.

He also urged efforts from both sides to promote the transformation and upgrading of cooperation in traditional sectors, facilitate two-way investment, advance sea-rail intermodal transportation, upgrade the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" model and build Malaysia's important ports into key hubs for the new land-sea corridor.