Chinese Premier Li Qiang is slated to land in Malaysia on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, for a three-day visit.
During Li’s three-day visit which starts on Tuesday, Kuala Lumpur and Beijing are expected to renew a five-year economic cooperation agreement and sign deals to collaborate in areas including the digital economy and green development.
According to Malaysian Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, Li Qiang’s visit will further cement ties between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing and pave the way for both countries to better resolve outstanding issues.
The Foreign Minister said that the visit will also allow both countries to explore new areas for collaboration and to further build on the 50 years of diplomatic ties that began in 1974.
He noted that it is important for both countries to bolster cooperation as China is Malaysia’s biggest trading partner.
“China is also the world’s second largest economy and there are many areas that we can explore and discuss for mutual gain,” he said.
Hasan disclosed that after the welcoming ceremony, Premier Li is scheduled to have a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim followed by a bilateral meeting between delegations from both countries.
This will be followed by a luncheon to be hosted by the Prime Minister.
“From there, I will accompany Premier Li for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and after that he will visit the ECRL project site in Gombak,” he said.
He added that Premier Li is also scheduled to meet representatives from the business communities and chambers of commerce during his visit.
Mohamad revealed that several issues may be raised during Premier Li’s visit which include the territorial claims in the South China Sea.
“That is why we need to further build on this good cooperation we have established since 1974.
“The good ties we have enjoyed since will allow us to manage and resolve any issue amicably,” he said, adding that China also valued the fact that Malaysia was the first ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) country to establish diplomatic relations with it back then.
Malaysia To Join BRICS
Meanwhile, Malaysia is planning to join the BRICS grouping of emerging economies.
In an interview with a Chinese media outlet ahead of Li Qiang’s visit, Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim said that his government would soon begin the process of joining the bloc, once it had received feedback from South Africa.
“We have made our policy clear and we have made our decision. We will start the formal process soon. As far as the Global South is concerned, we are fully supportive,” Anwar said.
Founded in 2006, BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In January, the bloc expanded its membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Anwar also backed comments by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticising the dominance of the US dollar in international trade.
“Last year Malaysia had the highest investment ever, but the currency was still attacked. Well, it has eased in the past few weeks. But it doesn’t make sense, it goes against basic economic principles,” Anwar was quoted as saying.
“Why? A currency that is completely outside the trade system of the two countries and is irrelevant in terms of economic activities in the country, has become dominant, purely because it is used as an international currency.”
Anwar Ibrahim
The Malaysian leader also took aim at a “Western narrative” that he said focused excessively on Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
“People keep talking about October 7, which annoys me. Do you want to erase 70 years of history by harping on one event? This is the Western narrative. You see, this is the problem with the West. They want to control the discourse, but we can no longer accept it because they are no longer a colonial power and independent countries should be free to express themselves.”
Anwar Ibrahim
Responding to a statement by Anwar that Malaysia will soon begin formal procedures to join the BRICS, Hasan asserted that the move would allow Malaysia’s voice to be better heard in the global arena.
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