KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin held a virtual meeting with visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 13 as both sides agreed to strengthen COVID-19 response and post-pandemic cooperation.
Wang conveyed to Muhyiddin greetings from Chinese leaders and expressed his appreciation for the meeting with Muhyiddin in home quarantine.
In facing the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Malaysia have extended assistance to each other, working together with solidarity to tide over this trying time, which fully demonstrates the brotherhood and friendship between the two countries, Wang said.
Wang said that both China and Malaysia have always prioritized people and lives, and as the prolonged pandemic requires regular prevention and control of the disease, China is also willing to strengthen all around cooperation with Malaysia and push for greater development of China-Malaysian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in post COVID-19 era.
China is a reliable friend and partner for Malaysia in the long run no matter how situation changes, he said.
China is willing to work with Malaysia to deepen corporation in COVID-19 response and is willing to provide successfully developed COVID-19 vaccines based on Malaysia's need, Wang said. Both countries should establish a high-level inter-governmental committee as soon as possible to explore and plan bilateral cooperation in post COVID-19 era, he said.
China will continue to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia, deepen cooperation under the ambit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), actively participate in key projects such as the Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail and expand cooperation in emerging fields including digital economy, 5G, satellite navigation, Wang said.
On regional cooperation, Wang stressed that Malaysia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the promoter and initiator of East Asia Cooperation, and China attaches great importance to Malaysia's important role in regional cooperation.
China is willing to work with Malaysia to guide the East Asia Summit to focus on East Asia and cooperation, maintain ASEAN's centrality as well as regional stability and development to further upgrade and elevate China-ASEAN relations, he said.
China also supports Malaysia in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting for a positive outcome, to uphold multilateralism and free trade to facilitate global economic recovery, he said.
For his part, Muhyiddin said Malaysia considers China as an important partner for cooperation, and bilateral relations have made significant progress in recent years with deepening cooperation in economic, social, cultural, defense and other sectors.
China's successful containment of COVID-19 outbreak is very encouraging for Malaysia, Muhyiddin said, expressing appreciation on China's great support for Malaysia's fight against COVID-19.
Malaysia is looking forward to cooperating with China on COVID-19 vaccines and supports the establishment of the bilateral high level committees to guide cooperation in the post COVID-19 era, Muhyiddin said.
Malaysia welcomes Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia, is willing to work with China to promote cooperation under the BRI framework and further strengthen cooperation in areas including agriculture, aquaculture, electronics and digital economies, he said, adding that Malaysia will continue to play an active role in elevating ASEAN-China cooperation, and remain committed to deepening bilateral cooperation under the APEC framework.
Wang also held meetings with Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Oct 13 with both sides reaching a series of consensus on a wide range of issues including strengthening bilateral cooperation, fighting COVID-19, upholding multilateralism, and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, among others.
