May 31st 2022 marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia. The two countries, having been good friends and friendly neighbors for thousands of years, started a brand-new journey in 1974, based on the principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. These 48 years have witnessed our sturdy friendship and genuine brotherhood tested and consolidated by numerous challenges and difficulties.  

Mutual respect and trust are the cornerstones of China-Malaysia good relations. Generations of Leaders from both countries contributed enormously in enhancing the friendly relations between the two countries. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri both attended the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, which gives great impetus to upgrading the China-ASEAN relations. China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Malaysia's Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, who co-chaired the First China-Malaysia High Level Committee Meeting, achieved an important consensus of jointly elevating the two countries’ bilateral relations to a new height in the post-COVID-19 era.

Mutual benefit is the highlight of China-Malaysia cooperation. Since the day the two countries established their diplomatic relations, they have carried out pragmatic cooperation in various sectors, which have achieved steady advancement, bucking the pandemic to achieve growth. In 2021, the China-Malaysia bilateral trade hit a record high, rising 34.5% to US$176.8 billion, with China being Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. China's investment in Malaysia's manufacturing sector reached US$3.98 billion, creating about 14,000 jobs in Malaysia. High quality Belt & Road cooperation projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which had achieved nearly 30% fulfillment despite the Covid-19 pandemic, will act as a strong driving force to prosper the local economy and bring benefit to local people.

Mutual assistance is the bedrock of China-Malaysia friendship. The well-known story of Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho), who had visited Melaka five times during his seven voyages, is a good example to prove the thousand-years-long friendship between the two countries. From the start of diplomatic relations 48 years ago, the two countries have weathered through thick and thin, setting a model of true good-neighborhood for regional countries. When COVID-19 pandemic broke out in China, Malaysia acted in the first time to send essential supplies to China. In the same way, China have sent millions of Chinese made vaccines to assist Malaysia's “National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme” which is crucial to curb the pandemic and effectively protect Malaysian people.

Now, the world is undergoing complex and profound changes. Despite multiple instabilities and uncertainties, China is determined to keep its high-quality development mode, which acts as a strong force to maintain and ensure global economy to develop in a positive manner. Malaysia is now focusing on implementing the 12th Malaysia Plan while striving hard to achieve the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. Looking ahead, China and Malaysia will seize the opportunities and address the challenges together to enhance bilateral relations and make greater contributions to the world.

With joint efforts, China and Malaysia will continue to strive for common development and achieve a better shared future. China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia in many aspects, by better coordinating development strategies; further exploring full-chain cooperation in the development, production and clinical trials of human vaccines, and preparing for establishing a regional vaccine development centre in Malaysia; further expanding cooperation in traditional industries such as electrical and electronic industries, automotive manufacturing, chemical smelting, and railways and ports, etc.; tapping into the development potential of emerging industries such as digital economy, green development, e-commerce and cybersecurity, and also further enhancing people-to-people exchanges. All of these will help to promote the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.

Through practical measures, China and Malaysia will continue to maintain peace and promote cooperation in both the region and the world. Faced with unprecedented changes in the world, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI), calling for building a community with a shared future for all mankind. GSI and GDI are the Chinese keys to solving the world security and development puzzles. China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia to practise true multilateralism, further strengthen the ASEAN-centered open and inclusive regional framework, and jointly address both regional and international security challenges based on the concept of maintaining peace as priority. Also, China is ready and willing to work with Malaysia to ensure that regional cooperation is in the right direction, to jointly benefit from the development opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and accelerate the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together, we will build a peaceful, safe, secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.