Xi Jinping Publishes a Signed Article in Malaysian Media

4 month 15 On [date], during his state visit to Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, President Xi Jinping published a signed article titled “Sailing the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Toward an Even Brighter Future” in Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily, The Star, and Sun Daily. The full text of the article is as follows:

At the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, I am soon to pay a state visit to Malaysia. This marks my first visit in a long time... 12 I am once again visiting this beautiful country this year. I look forward to experiencing Malaysia’s new developments and changes firsthand, and to engaging in heartfelt exchanges with my Malaysian friends about friendship and cooperation.

China and Malaysia are friendly neighbors separated by the sea. The Maritime Silk Road bears witness to the millennia-old bonds of friendship between the two nations, and the enduring ties of “water never ceases” have grown ever deeper with the passage of time. 1300 Many years ago, the Tang-dynasty Chinese monk Yijing, while crossing the sea in search of Buddhist scriptures, passed through the Malay Peninsula and for the first time recorded the history of the ancient Kedah Kingdom in writing. 600 Many years ago, Zheng He, a Ming-dynasty Chinese navigator, 7 During this long-distance voyage 5 On his second visit to Malacca, he sowed the seeds of peace and friendship; the Sam Po Temple, Sam Po Hill, and Sam Po Well in Malacca all bear witness to the deep affection the local people hold for him. 80 Many years ago, Malaysian Chinese transport workers rushed to Yunnan at a critical juncture in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, helping to reopen the Burma–Yunnan Highway—the lifeline that sustained China’s war effort. These inspiring stories continue to be widely celebrated by the peoples of China and Malaysia to this day. Looking back on the past while looking ahead to the future, both China and Malaysia must work together to reinvigorate this vessel of friendship that has sailed through the annals of history, ensuring its steady progress and enduring success.

We must firmly hold the helm of strategic guidance. 51 Prior to the turn of the year, the leaders of China and Malaysia broke through the lingering shadows of the Cold War and decided to establish diplomatic relations, thereby pioneering China’s relations with ASEAN member states. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have consistently upheld strategic autonomy, respected each other’s development paths, and provided mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, setting a model of mutual reinforcement and win-win cooperation between nations. 2023 This year, Prime Minister Anwar and I reached an important consensus on jointly building a China–Malaysia community with a shared future, ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations. Both sides should maintain close strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, effectively implement the bilateral government cooperation plan for jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen alignment of development strategies and exchange of governance experience, and leverage high-level strategic cooperation to propel the development of bilateral relations.

We must fortify the ballast of pragmatic cooperation. 2024 In [year], the bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia reached 2120 hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, nearly a thousandfold increase compared with the level when the two countries established diplomatic relations, and China has consecutively 16 has become Malaysia’s largest trading partner. Fresh durians from Malaysia can be transported from orchards to Chinese supermarkets within a single day, making them highly popular among Chinese consumers. The Malaysia–China Kuantan Industrial Park has so far recorded cumulative investments exceeding 110 RMB 100 million—once all projects within the park are completed and reach full production capacity, they will create numerous long-term jobs. The potential for cooperation between the two countries in such areas as the digital economy, green development, industrial investment, and transport infrastructure construction continues to be unlocked. Both sides should deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, advance high-quality joint efforts to build the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen collaboration across industrial and supply chains, and prioritize cooperation in the digital, green, blue, and tourism economies, thereby supporting each country’s modernization process.

We must row the oars of cultural and people-to-people exchanges with skill. China and Malaysia have granted visa-free entry to each other’s citizens. 2024 In [year], personnel exchanges between the two countries reached nearly 600 The number of tourist visits has reached hundreds of thousands, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The slogan “Malaysia: The Allure of Asia” captures the unique charm of Malaysia’s culture, history, and natural scenery, drawing countless Chinese tourists to enjoy leisure and sightseeing. At the same time, an increasing number of Malaysian visitors are coming to China to experience its rich traditional heritage and vibrant contemporary allure. The peoples of China and Malaysia should maintain frequent exchanges, much like visiting relatives, to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, thereby deepening mutual understanding and affinity, especially among the younger generation.

We must hoist the sails of multilateral cooperation. China and Malaysia are both important developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, emerging market economies, and members of the Global South, sharing similar positions on upholding international fairness and justice and promoting open and inclusive development. The two countries maintain close collaboration within frameworks such as East Asian cooperation, APEC, and the United Nations. China welcomes Malaysia’s designation as a BRICS partner country, which aligns with the overarching trend of the Global South uniting to strengthen itself and is conducive to safeguarding the common interests of developing countries. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. 80 Anniversary, Establishment of the United Nations 80 The anniversary also marks the convening of the Bandung Conference. 70 anniversary. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs, uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, jointly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, and promote the evolution of global governance toward greater fairness and reasonableness. They should also uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and maintain an open and cooperative international environment.

China and Malaysia are a community with a shared future, bound by common security, shared honor and disgrace, and mutual support in times of adversity. “Share blessings and bear hardships together” is a well-known proverb on both sides, encapsulating the very essence of the China–Malaysia community with a shared future. Both countries should courageously take the lead, strive to excel, and jointly forge a bright future of development, growth, and prosperity.

Friendly cooperation between China and the ASEAN member states has stood the test of time, emerging stronger with each passing era. China was the first among ASEAN’s dialogue partners to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and it took the lead in establishing a free-trade area and a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN. As a result, China-ASEAN cooperation has become the most pragmatic and fruitful within the broader framework of regional cooperation. In the face of challenges such as the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the headwinds confronting economic globalization, the two sides have consistently supported one another, further strengthening the resilience of their bilateral collaboration. 2024 In [year], China-ASEAN trade exceeded 9800 hundreds of millions of dollars, consecutively 5 Mutual top trading partner for many years, China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Substantive negotiations on the agreement have now come to a close. An increasing number of high-quality, distinctive products from ASEAN countries are making their way into Chinese households, while Chinese literature, animation, film and television works are steadily gaining popularity across ASEAN, bringing with them China’s fine traditional culture and the vibrant spirit of modern life.

China firmly supports ASEAN’s unity and the building of the ASEAN Community, and upholds ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture. China fully supports Malaysia in fulfilling its duties. 2025 As the current ASEAN Chair, we look forward to Malaysia, in its role as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations, further fulfilling its bridging function. China is comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a modern socialist country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. This model of modernization follows the path of peaceful development, and China stands ready to work with all countries to achieve peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity. China’s economy boasts a solid foundation, numerous strengths, strong resilience, and vast potential, and the fundamental conditions and underlying trends that support its long-term positive trajectory remain unchanged. China will 2025 The projected target for annual economic growth is set at 5% Going forward, China will continue to promote high-quality development, further open its doors to the world at a high level, share development opportunities with all countries, and inject greater stability and certainty into the regional and global economies.

Unity is strength, and only through cooperation can we achieve win-win outcomes. China stands ready to work with Malaysia and other ASEAN member states to align with the historic trend of peace and development, resist the undercurrents of geopolitical rivalry and bloc confrontation, and push back against the tide of unilateralism and protectionism. Together, we will forge ahead in building a high-level, strategic China–Malaysia community with a shared future and jointly create an even closer China–ASEAN community with a shared future.