Putrajaya: Chinese President Xi Jinping today expressed confidence that Malaysia will achieve greater success under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “During my last visit in 2013, I was deeply impressed by Malaysia’s beautiful nature, diverse culture and kind people. Now, coming back 12 years later, I am truly delighted to see Malaysia booming and making great strides in modernisation.”

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Xi Jinping stated at a dinner hosted by Anwar at Seri Perdana that he has no doubt Malaysia will be ever more vigorous and achieve even greater success in building Malaysia MADANI under the current leadership. Xi also highlighted how the two countries have developed strong diplomatic relations over the past 50 years.

“Over the past 50-plus years since we began formal diplomatic relations, we have worked together and built a relationship as solid as a stone and only getting stronger. Politically, we respect and trust each other; economically, we enjoy mutually beneficial cooperation; culturally, we learn from and invigorate each other. This relationship is benefiting our people in real ways,” he said.

The President emphasised that a new historical chapter in Malaysia-China relations began in 2023, with both countries agreeing on the vision to build a community with a shared future. Xi is currently on a three-day state visit to Malaysia, which began yesterday at the invitation of Sultan Ibrahim.

This visit marks Xi’s second official visit to Malaysia in 12 years, following the 2013 visit when the two countries upgraded diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Among those present at the dinner were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, along with several other key ministers. Also present was Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.