China and Malaysia chart new 50-year strategic partnership, deepen trade and cultural ties
China and Malaysia are poised to elevate their already-robust bilateral ties with a new long-term vision, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with a pledge to build a high-level strategic community with a shared future.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation across economic, technological, and cultural spheres. Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a high-level meeting where they outlined a blueprint for bilateral collaboration over the next five decades.
A Three-Point Proposal for Strategic Growth
President Xi laid out a three-point proposal for advancing bilateral relations, calling for the two nations to maintain strategic independence, synchronize their development strategies, and promote civilizational exchange. The proposal emphasizes resisting external pressures such as indiscriminate tariffs and supply chain decoupling by embracing values of peace, openness, and inclusiveness rooted in Asian tradition.
Both leaders also reiterated the need for a stable and predictable Asia amid global uncertainty, with Anwar affirming ASEAN’s rejection of unilateral trade restrictions.
Advancing High-Quality Economic Ties
A major focus of the visit was expanding high-quality bilateral cooperation. Xi emphasized increasing collaboration in the digital, green, and blue economies, as well as artificial intelligence. He also called for deeper integration across the industrial, supply, value, data, and talent chains.
In his op-ed published in Malaysian media, Xi revealed that trade between the two countries soared to $212 billion in 2024—nearly 1,000 times higher than when ties were established. China has been Malaysia’s top trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Malaysia ranks as China’s second-largest ASEAN trading partner.
Xi and Anwar witnessed the signing of more than 30 bilateral cooperation agreements in areas including infrastructure, AI, and agriculture. Key BRI projects like the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative and the East Coast Rail Link have also been pivotal to the success of China-Malaysia cooperation.
Cultural and People-to-People Engagements Thrive
Beyond trade, the two nations are witnessing a renaissance in cultural ties and tourism. In 2024 alone, nearly 6 million mutual visits were recorded, surpassing pre-pandemic figures. This surge is attributed to the mutual visa exemption policy initiated in December 2023 and extended through 2026.
Xi urged further tourism and youth exchanges, highlighting ongoing projects in culture, sports, education, and film. China and Malaysia are jointly applying for the inclusion of the traditional Lion Dance in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Their cooperative research into giant panda protection also continues to flourish.
The popularity of Chinese culture in Malaysia was further demonstrated by the record-setting performance of “Ne Zha 2,” a Chinese animated film that recently premiered in Malaysian cinemas.
A CGTN poll revealed that 83.6 percent of Malaysian respondents hold favorable views of China, with 83.8 percent expressing interest in visiting or studying in the country—a testament to growing people-to-people affinity.
Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years
The strategic partnership outlined by Xi and Anwar represents not just a celebration of five decades of diplomatic relations, but a launchpad for deeper regional influence and cooperation. As China and Malaysia forge ahead with shared values and aligned goals, their evolving partnership is poised to drive economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional stability for generations to come.
