1st Ld-Writethru: Malaysia, China pledge to further enhance bilateral ties

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday met here with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both sides pledged to further enhance bilateral ties.

Hailing the close neighborliness between Malaysia and China, Najib said Malaysia fully supports the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that are proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He said Malaysia is willing to work with China to push forward the construction of industrial parks and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to make investments in the country and particularly participate in the development of its manufacturing sector.

Najib also said the Southeast Asian nation hopes to receive more Chinese visitors and would like to maintain close communication and cooperation with China on the search of the missing flight of Malaysia Airlines MH370, and deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.

As the Chair of the ASEAN this year, Malaysia is also willing to play a positive role in boosting China-ASEAN relations, he said.

Wang Yi, who is here for the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting from Aug. 4 to 7, said the China-Malaysia relations are in the best period in history, and China appreciates the important contributions made by Prime Minister Najib for the bilateral relations.

The Chinese foreign minister said China highly values the friendship between the two countries, and is willing to work with Malaysia to keep enhancing the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Wang also noted that China would like to partner with Malaysia on the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and boost industrial cooperation with Malaysia with focus on the industrial parks in China's Qinzhou and Malaysia's Kuantan.

He expressed China's willingness to strengthen and expand cooperation with Malaysia in fields of infrastructure, telecommunications, nuclear, aerospace, remote sensing technologies and cultural exchanges.

Wang said China appreciates Malaysia's efforts in the search of the missing MH370 flight, and would like to work together with Malaysia during its ASEAN chairmanship to keep the right direction in the development of China-ASEAN relations, focus on cooperation and promote the bilateral ties to a new level.

During the day, in meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman, Wang said that China and Malaysia mutually trust, support and cooperate with each other and constantly enrich the content of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

As a reliable friend of Malaysia, China steadfastly supports Malaysia to take a path of development in line with its national conditions, and believes that Malaysia will make greater achievements, Wang told Anifah.

Wang said that China firmly backs the Global Movement of Moderates advocated by Malaysia, which will promote harmony between people with various religions and races.

On his part, Anifah said that Malaysia-China relationship is crucial to his country, and Malaysia is willing to continuously deepen the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthen political mutual trust, promote cooperation in investment, construction of industrial parks, and enhance cultural exchanges.

Anifah said that China is the ASEAN's important partner and Malaysia would like to play a role as bridge between the two sides to seek mutual benefits, win-win outcome and cooperation.

Also on Tuesday, Wang met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanasak Patimapragorn, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith, and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. Endi