President Xi Jinping on Tuesday began a state visit to Malaysia.
He expressed hope that his trip will yield fruitful outcomes, ushering in a new "Golden 50 Years" of bilateral relations.
Xi was greeted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur.
In a written statement upon his arrival, the president said he expects the visit to open a new historic chapter of good-neighbourly friendship and mutual benefit between the two countries.
In a signed article titled "May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future" published in local media ahead of his arrival, Xi said he looks forward to meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and plan for future cooperation.
Xi also urged Beijing and Kuala Lumpur to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains.
The two sides must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation, he said.
Xi added that China will work with Malaysia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states to combat unilateralism and protectionism.
During his stay in Malaysia, Xi is expected to discuss a free trade agreement between China and Asean, with Malaysia being the chair of the association this year.
He'll meet with King Sultan Ibrahim on Wednesday morning and Anwar later in the day.
Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said the agreement will eliminate many tariffs between China and the bloc's members.
"We will bring more tariffs down to zero in many cases, and then expand to all the areas,” he said in an interview with CGTN.
Xi is on a three-nation overseas trip. He earlier visited Vietnam during which Beijing and Hanoi signed dozens of cooperation agreements.
The president will later visit Cambodia on the final leg of his trip. (Xinhua & agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-04-15 HKT 21:53
President Xi arrives in Malaysia for state visit
2025-04-15 HKT 19:52
