PUTRAJAYA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a courtesy call from China’s top lawmaker Zhao Leji.
The hour-long meeting with Zhao – who chairs China’s standing committee of its National People’s Congress (NPC) – at Perdana Putra here was held as part of the legislator’s three-day working visit to Malaysia beginning yesterday.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir; Transport Minister Anthony Loke; Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
At the meeting, Anwar thanked China for the wonderful reception given to him during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping throughout his official visit to the country from March 29 to April 1.
He said there was interest from China to invest in Malaysia in trade, education, and research development, among other things.
Anwar said both leaders were of the same opinion that Malaysia and China should continue high-level visits aimed at strengthening and consolidating further bilateral relations, which had been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013.
He said Malaysia and China have also agreed to enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative – such as the twin parks, or Two Countries, Twin Parks; East Coast Rail Link; and Automotive Hi-Tech Valley projects.
Both countries would also continue promoting parliamentary cooperation and exchanges between NPC and Malaysia’s Parliament, as well as fostering people-to-people exchange by enhancing connectivity as Malaysia welcomes more tourist arrivals from China, he said.
Both sides also reiterated their shared beliefs on the common values of Malaysia Madani and a vision of a “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” and in this regard, a proposal to set up an Asian Monetary Fund, which is in line with the aspirations of the vision. – Bernama, May 19, 2023
