Depth report

　　

On January 19, 2023, "Malaysia Development Report 2022" and "Malaysia Situation and China-Malaysia Relations 2022 Seminar" was held. The conference was organized by Beijing Foreign Studies University and Social Sciences Academic Press. Mr. Xu Ningning, Executive Director of China-Asean Business Council, Chairman of Industrial Cooperation Committee of RCEP and Chief China-Asean business expert, was invited to deliver a keynote speech.

Xu said that as traditional friendly neighbors, China and Malaysia have maintained a sound momentum of development in bilateral relations. Over the past 30 years or so, I have been deeply impressed by the fact that in recent years, the two sides have strengthened political mutual trust, deepened mutually beneficial cooperation, bucked the trend of trade and investment, expanded cooperation in various fields and achieved remarkable results. In particular, the two countries have overcome various difficulties and jointly addressed challenges through cooperation of "climbing mountains and crossing ditches together". China-malaysia relations are at the forefront of China-Asean relations. The increasingly consolidated and developed comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides has played a positive role in the peaceful development of the two countries and the region.

Xu Ningning analyzed that bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia exceeded $100 billion in 2013, and nine years later in 2022, bilateral trade volume exceeded $200 billion for the first time. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. The bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia accounts for 21% of the total trade volume between China and ASEAN, ranking second among the ten ASEAN countries, and China's trade deficit between China and Malaysia is the largest among the ten ASEAN countries. The large Chinese market and the rapid growth of Chinese enterprises' investment in Malaysia have benefited Malaysia's economic growth.

Xu Ningning pointed out that in 2023, the grim international situation and the gloomy global economy will test the determination and confidence of China and Malaysia to cooperate, and put forward new and higher requirements for the upgrading of the level and quality of cooperation between the two countries.

First, the two countries need to enhance mutual trust and strengthen the goals of cooperation. We should synergize our development strategies, policies and measures in a detailed and concrete way, further tap the potential of Belt and Road cooperation, resolve and break through constraints and obstacles, build a high-level and high-quality comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual benefit for another decade, and jointly realize new development by building a China-Malaysia community of shared future.

Second, the two countries need to jointly strengthen cooperation in the three pillars of political security, economic, social and people-to-people exchanges. Political cooperation should be used to build a "firewall" against economic and security risks, steer the course for sustained friendly relations, and promote political harmony, mutual benefit and business relations. To develop new growth space and expand trade and investment through economic cooperation; The two countries should strengthen the social foundation and favorable cultural conditions for good-neighborly relations through cultural and people-to-people cooperation. The three pillars, political, economic and cultural, support each other and cannot be without one. The three pillars interact to promote cooperation. The important bond between the three pillars is the common goal and need to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership and the deepening and expanding consensus on cooperation.

Third, we need to further institutionalize, institutionalize and systematize our cooperation. The two countries should integrate the joint statement and a series of cooperation consensus reached and being implemented, and integrate the short-term and long-term goals of cooperation. The improvement of the cooperation system between the two countries will help increase the expectation of cooperation and enhance the mutual promotion of coordination and cooperation among relevant fields, departments, industries and industries.

Fourth, the two countries need to promote economic and trade cooperation and fully exploit industrial complementarity. Economic gains are an important driving force for the development of bilateral cooperation. Industry is the foundation of economic growth. China and Malaysia enjoy close trade and investment relations and enjoy broad space and great potential for cooperation. The implementation of the RCEP and the market opening brought about by the upgrading of the China-Asean Free Trade area have created favorable conditions for the two countries to enhance industrial cooperation. Industry associations and local governments of the two countries should further play their role in industrial cooperation and demonstrate their achievements. We need to work together to formulate an action plan on industrial connectivity, effectively advance our cooperation, focus on cooperation in infrastructure, high-value manufacturing, energy, digital services, financial banking, tourism services, logistics services and small and medium-sized enterprises, optimize supply chains and industrial chains, and jointly build "two countries and two parks". Companies of the two countries should focus on developing new business opportunities. We should innovate our business ideas, business models and methods, strengthen our awareness of FTA in business thinking, and make good use of multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements to develop the international market.

Xu said that despite the grim international situation and adverse factors, the Chinese and Malaysian economies have strong resilience, great potential and vitality, and the supporting role of the fundamentals and factors of development of the two countries remain unchanged.

In November 2022, Malaysia's new Prime Minister Anwar said on his first day in office that he would give priority to further strengthening relations with China. Anwar said in December that the new Maldivian government attaches great importance to relations with China and is willing to work with China to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, investment and other fields and push for greater development of bilateral relations. In his congratulatory message to Anwar on his inauguration as Malaysian Prime Minister, Premier Li Keqiang said that the two countries will jointly push forward the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

In the New Year, China has implemented measures to optimize the flow of people and goods between China and foreign countries. This is greatly beneficial to the industrial cooperation, connectivity and field cooperation between China and Malaysia.

Noting that 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xu stressed that the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership is and will enter a new stage. Let us take this anniversary as an opportunity to embark on a new voyage and open up a new future for our bilateral relations.