China confident Malaysia will flourish under ‘good friend’ Mahathir

Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi says China believed Malaysia will play a more active role in regional and global affairs.

China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi had a three-hour discussion with Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: China is confident that Malaysia will continue to flourish and develop under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said China’s visiting Councillor of the State Council and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

He said China, being a good friend of Malaysia, was happy to see the achievements that Malaysia had made since Dr Mahathir took office on May 9.

“We respect the choice made by the Malaysian people and we support Malaysia in its path of development which suits its own conditions. We are happy to see that since the assumption of office by Mahathir, many dimensions had been opened up for the national development of Malaysia.

“As Malaysia’s good friend, China is happy to see these achievements that Malaysia has made and we have confidence under the leadership of Mahathir, the people of Malaysia will stay united and achieve new glory.

“Malaysia is bound to play a more active and important role in regional and global affairs,” he said here today.

Earlier, Wang Yi called on Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and both leaders held talks for almost three hours discussing bilateral and regional issues at Wisma Putra here.

Wang Yi also described Mahathir as an old and good friend of the Chinese people and said the Malaysian prime minister knows China well and attaches importance on China’s role.

“He is friendly towards China and we dearly cherish the friendship that has been built with him over the years. And we believe that during his visit, there will be even stronger mutual trust built between the leaders of our two countries,” he added.

Besides visiting Malaysia at the invitation of Saifuddin, Wang Yi via a translator said his visit was to make preparations together with Malaysian counterparts for Mahathir’s official visit to China in mid-August. Wang Yi is on a two-day working visit to Malaysia.

He added that during Dr Mahathir’s visit, China and Malaysia leaders will also map out a new blue print for mutually beneficial cooperation. - FMT