Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Shanghai on Monday (Nov 4). - Photo: Bernama
SHANGHAI: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has begun the second day of his working visit to Shanghai, China, with a packed schedule ahead.
The Prime Minister's day started with a speech at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC).
This year, Malaysia is honoured as the "Country of Honour" at the 7th CIIE, held from on Tuesday (Nov 5) until Nov 10.
Anwar was privileged to speak immediately after his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, followed by leaders from five other countries: France, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and Uzbekistan.
At the 500,000-square-metre NECC, the Prime Minister also opened the Malaysia Pavilion and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) Pavilion.
A total of 68 Malaysian companies are participating in this year’s CIIE.
The CIIE is an initiative by the Chinese government to provide a platform for countries involved in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote and export their products and services to China.
In the afternoon, Anwar, 77, will meet Premier Li at the Grand Halls to discuss bilateral matters, following their previous meeting in Putrajaya on June 19.
They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and interest.
This will be followed by a conferment ceremony, where Anwar will be awarded an honorary professorship by Tsinghua University.
To conclude the day, Anwar and Li will witness the exchange of documents between Malaysia and China related to the BRI, as well as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and China Media Group.
Anwar is on a working visit to China from Nov 4 to 7 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, to attend the 7th CIIE in Shanghai, a modern international metropolis.
He arrived on Nov 4, marking Shanghai as his first stop before proceeding to Beijing.
Anwar is accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner globally for 15 consecutive years since 2009. – Bernama
