Putrajaya, April 16 — Chinese President Xi Jinping marked the second day of his state visit to Malaysia with a series of high-level engagements aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations. His visit sets the stage for what leaders from both sides are calling a new “Golden 50 Years” in Malaysia-China relations.
During the day, President Xi met with Malaysia’s King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. These discussions covered a range of strategic collaborations and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening mutual cooperation.
In a written statement upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Xi expressed optimism that his visit would yield fruitful outcomes through joint efforts, opening a new chapter of good neighborliness and win-win cooperation between Malaysia and China.
Following their bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Anwar and President Xi witnessed the exchange of 31 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), agreements, and diplomatic notes. These cover areas such as:
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Visa exemption agreements
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Joint research on giant panda conservation
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Malaysia’s export of fresh coconuts to China
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AI lab collaboration between the University of Malaya and Peking University
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Standardization, railway, digital economy, and media cooperation
Later in the afternoon, President Xi and his delegation were formally welcomed at the Prime Minister’s official residence. The reception included a cultural performance by Malaysia’s National Academy of Arts, and local schoolchildren warmly greeted the Chinese delegation in Mandarin.
President Xi signed the guestbook before engaging in a closed-door meeting with Anwar. Earlier in the day, he was hosted by Sultan Ibrahim at a royal banquet, where both leaders discussed cooperation in education and long-term bilateral development.
This marks President Xi’s second visit to Malaysia, following his first in 2013. His arrival on April 15 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport included a written statement emphasizing his hopes for strengthening the traditional friendship and political trust between the two countries.
Malaysia and China officially established diplomatic ties in May 1974, and celebrated the 50th anniversary of relations last year. Over the past 16 years, China has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in 2024 exceeding RM484.1 billion, accounting for 16.8% of Malaysia’s global trade.
As ASEAN’s current chair and the coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, Malaysia reiterated its commitment to promoting a comprehensive strategic partnership between the regional bloc and China.
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