Xi calls for unity and stability in Asia

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday called for unity and stability in Asia as he met with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Mohamad Yassin.

Asian countries are facing new serious challenges, Xi said, stressing that the primary task is to unite with each other to maintain stable development momentum in the continent.

The relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the cornerstone for Asia's stability and engine for the continent's development, Xi said.

The vice president said that China-ASEAN relations have made considerable progress over the past two decades and brought great benefits to the countries and the region's people.

China-Malaysia relations have been at the forefront of relations between China and the ASEAN countries, Xi said, noting that Malaysia was the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic ties with China, invite China to conduct dialogue with the ASEAN and host the China-ASEAN summit.

China is willing to work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to push forward China-ASEAN strategic partnership, Xi said.

The vice president also called on China and Malaysia to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, noting that Malaysia has become China's largest trading partner in the ASEAN.

Muhyiddin said Xi's speech at the ninth China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Friday deeply impressed the delegates, and Malaysia is ready to work with China to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote China-ASEAN relations.

Muhyiddin was invited to attend the ninth China-ASEAN Expo, which opened on Friday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.