Warm reception: Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — SADIQ ASYRAF/ Prime Minister’s Office
BEIJING: In their first-ever face-to-face meeting, Prime Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President Xi Jinping reiterated the strong friendship and trade ties between Malaysia and China, while looking to the future.
In his brief welcoming remarks, Xi said both countries have agreed to build a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
“This bilateral relationship is a new historical starting point,” he said.
Xi added that he appreciated the fact that despite observing the holy month of Ramadan, Anwar had accepted his invitation to visit China.He said he also took note of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both nations this year and the 50th anniversary of the Malaysia-China diplomatic relationship next year.
Hence, he said it is hoped that under Anwar’s leadership, Malaysia and China will work more closely together to bring the relationship to greater heights.
For his part, Anwar said he was awestruck by Xi’s humility.
“He is such a formidable leader on the world stage, a senior world statesman and yet there is so much humility in him.
“He even asked me about our Malaysia Madani concept and about The Asian Renaissance,” he said, referring to his 1996 book.
“The more you learn, the more humble one should become. The wisdom of humility is endless,” Anwar said in his speech after a buka puasa event with Maycham China (Malaysian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in China) here yesterday.
He had earlier called on Xi at the Great Hall of the People.
Anwar urged Maycham China to keep up the good work of promoting Malaysia in the eyes of Chinese businesses and investors. He said promoting collaboration should not just be left to the government.
“It is also very much the work of the private sector itself. That is why everywhere I go abroad, I always make it a point to listen to the business community ... to encourage them to do more.
“This is the only way we can spur more growth,” he added.
Maycham China chairman Loh Wee Keng, in his speech earlier, said the chamber was going the extra mile to further promote trade and business exchanges with Malaysia.
“The gotong royong spirit is well and alive here in China. In Malaysia, we may take some things for granted, but here we take the extra effort.
“That is why our trade with China is thriving,” he added.
Also present at the dinner were the accompanying Malaysian ministers, Ambassador to China and Maycham China patron Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
