Jia visits Malaysia to enhance bilateral ties

Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin met here with several Malaysian leaders separately on Tuesday in a bid to further enhance political mutual trust and boost economic and trade ties.

China and Malaysia are close and friendly neighbors, sharing long history of friendly exchanges, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian Supreme Head of State Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah. The CPPCC chairman is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia.

"China's new leadership attaches great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Malaysia and is willing to work together to promote the strategic cooperation to a new high level," said Jia.

Halim said that the development of relations between China and Malaysia proved that the decision back to 1974 to establish diplomatic relations is a correct one.

"The relations between the two countries are to usher in a new era full of opportunities, both sides should push forward the cooperation in various fields for the benefit of the two peoples," he added.

During talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Jia Qinglin said that deepening China-Malaysia strategic cooperation under the new circumstances serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

With the two countries having established a strategically cooperative relationship, political mutual trust has been continuously deepened and economic and trade cooperation has yielded remarkable results, bringing substantial benefits to the two peoples, Jia added.

Najib welcomes Jia's visit to Malaysia, saying the two countries share time-honored friendship and close ties, adding that his country valued the strong relationship and mutual trust with China.

He said that the two countries have carried out pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of fields, including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, education, science and technology.

Jia also met with Abu Zahar, president of the Senate of Malaysia. Both leaders agreed that the Chinese political consultative body and the Malaysia Senate should maintain good cooperation and promote the exchange of all levels.

On Tuesday morning, Jia Qinglin and Najib jointly launched the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Gebeng, hometown of Najib.

"Promoted personally by the two prime ministers of both countries, the industrial park is an important project of local governments and enterprises between the two countries," Jia said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the MCKIP.

He said that the official launch of the MCKIP will surely open a new chapter in the friendly and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

"The true impact of MCKIP would be felt not just in economic terms but in the legacy it would leave on the lives of locals as the developer had committed to provide training for all levels of workforce," Najib said.

Jia arrived here Monday evening after attending the royal cremation ceremony of the late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sinhanouk in Phnom Penh earlier on the same day.