In a bid to promote Malaysian palm oil to Chinese businesses and consumers, an official from the Southeast Asian country's plantation authority led a delegation to China from July 8 to 12.
During the trip, Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, visited the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing, where he witnessed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
The delegation also explored new business opportunities in the palm oil sector and the broader agricultural produce industry.
Chan emphasized his hope to expand Malaysian companies' cooperation with China and to help Chinese consumers better appreciate the diverse uses of palm oil.
"The Malaysian Palm Oil Board's Shanghai branch is designed to specifically address the needs of the large Chinese market by offering customized products," said the deputy minister, referring to a Malaysian government agency dedicated to serving the country's palm oil industry.
He added that that the commodity has excellent potential for use in popular Chinese foods.
"For instance, red palm oil can be used in hot pot soup and as animal feed for hairy crabs, improving the flavor of the crab meat," Chan said.
As the world's second-largest palm oil producer and China's second-largest source for the commodity, Malaysia accounts for about 30 percent of global output, with the sector contributing 2.4 percent to the nation's GDP.
Malaysia has seen its market share grow as China's large consumer base exhibits increasing demand for products like synthetic detergents and cosmetics that use palm oil and its derivatives.
A growing number of Chinese companies and institutions have been partnering with their Malaysian counterparts to better integrate the palm oil supply chain and expand its applications.
"Our cooperation with Tsinghua University -- where we have tested our emissions [of] biodiesel produced from palm oil and tested it on heavy vehicles here in China -- based on this collaboration, the heavy vehicles that use biodiesel from Malaysia have shown a reduction in carbon emission. We definitely hope that we can use more palm oil or combination biodiesel as well as power generation where we can reduce the emission. And this is very important," said Datuk Parveez, director general of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
Malaysian delegation visits China to boost cooperation on palm oil exports
China on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to uphold an impartial stance on the Iranian nuclear issue and help create favorable conditions for a political settlement, as Security Council members remained sharply divided over whether the body should continue considering the matter.
At a meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue held on Friday, the representatives of China and Russia opposed continuing discussion of the Iranian nuclear issue under the Security Council's "non-proliferation" agenda item. Russia requested a procedural vote on the meeting's agenda.
China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Sun Lei, noted that Security Council Resolution 2231 expired on Oct. 18, 2025, and that the related UN sanctions arrangements on Iran had also been terminated. Therefore, he said, the Security Council should conclude its consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue.
"The situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear issue are now at a critical juncture. The Security Council should play a constructive role in promoting negotiations and de-escalating tensions. Certain members of the Security Council, however, are bent on pushing for a meeting under a terminated agenda item in the name of so-called 'supporting diplomatic efforts.' This not only exacerbates divisions within the Security Council but also undermines the atmosphere for negotiation and severely hampers the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. China is gravely concerned over this," said Sun.
"China urges relevant countries to stop politicizing the issue at the Security Council, faithfully implement measures related to the 'Termination Day' of Resolution 2231, uphold the authority of the Security Council and the credibility of multilateral diplomacy, and create favorable conditions for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," the representative continued.
Sun said that resolving the Iranian nuclear issue requires respecting the legitimate concerns and lawful rights of all parties. Iran should continue to honor its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while retaining its legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said.
He added that the United States should take concrete actions to help create conditions for a political settlement.
"The Security Council's immediate priority is to uphold an objective and impartial position, secure more time and space for diplomatic efforts, foster a positive atmosphere for negotiations, and avoid becoming a tool for individual countries to advance their own political agenda and exert pressure," Sun said.
The representatives of the United States, Britain and France argued that the decision by Britain, France and Germany to invoke the "snapback" sanctions mechanism under Resolution 2231 was lawful and that the Security Council should continue considering the Iranian nuclear issue.
China voted against the procedural motion on the meeting's agenda.
China urges end to political manipulation over Iran nuclear issue at UN
