Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad looked to China as a model for the country's development, as an example of the Look East Policy, to grow and develop into a prosperous nation.
He said this during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing today.
"You have 1.4 billion people while we have only 30 million people. We already have difficulties running a country with that small number but how China manages all the difficulties and keep it together is something of a miracle to us," said Mahathir.
At the meeting, he was joined by Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong.
Mahathir also reiterated that despite the change in government after Pakatan Harapan took over in May, there will be continuity in policies between the two nations.
"As you know, Malaysia has a new government, but it is not so new because somebody who was the leader in the previous government is still leading.
"There is some continuity in our policies which were started when I was the prime minister," he added.
Mahathir also mentioned that China has always been Malaysia's big trading partner and the country prospered because of it.
"Of course, at times, there were ups and downs. Sometimes the trade is in your favour and sometimes in our favour. That is the nature of things." - Mkini
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