Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Seri Perdana Complex in a bid to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen the traditional friendship between Malaysia and China.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, President Xi, accompanied by his delegation, arrived at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 5.05 pm. They were greeted by a cultural performance from the National Academy of the Arts, Heritage and Culture (ASWARA) before the two leaders convened for a closed-door meeting. The welcoming ceremony was attended by students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 16 (2) who greeted the Chinese president in Mandarin. The event was also attended by several Malaysian ministers, including Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The discussions between Anwar and Xi are expected to focus on invigorating bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and international matters of mutual interest. This visit marks Xi’s second official visit to Malaysia since 2013, occurring during a period of challenging geopolitical and geoeconomic scenarios.
President Xi’s visit aims to deepen the traditional friendship and political mutual trust between the two nations. The leaders are also set to witness the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), agreements, and notes between Malaysia and China, followed by an official dinner hosted by Anwar in Xi’s honor.
Earlier in the day, President Xi was accorded a state welcoming ceremony, followed by an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, at Istana Negara, and a state banquet with the King. Xi’s visit to Malaysia is part of a three-day state visit, which began yesterday at the invitation of Sultan Ibrahim. This visit is also part of Xi’s first State Visit series this year, including Vietnam and Cambodia.
As the current Chair of ASEAN and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and China through dialogue, mutual trust, and people-centered initiatives. Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China were established on May 31, 1974, and the countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of this milestone last year.
Since 2009, China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In 2024, the total trade between the two countries was valued at RM484.12 billion, accounting for 16.8 percent of Malaysia’s total global trade of RM2.879 trillion.