Malaysian experts share expectations on Chinese President Xi's upcoming state visit

Malaysia looks forward to Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit, aiming to enhance cooperation with China in comprehensive areas from people-to-people exchanges to economy and trade, according to Malaysian experts.

Chinese foreign ministry said that Xi will pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15, and will pay state visits to Malaysia and Cambodia from April 15 to 18.

Ahead of Xi's visit, Malaysia held the ASEAN-China Media and Think Tank Forum in capital city of Kuala Lumpur on Friday, bringing together representatives of major media and think tanks from the 10 ASEAN countries and China to discuss and promote common development.

As the ASEAN chairman this year, Malaysia aims to foster greater collaboration and economic integration with the bloc's biggest trading partner -- China, which is also a key focus of the forum.

"It provides a timely opportunity to strengthen people-to-people ties, ensuring that our cooperation is not merely transactional, but built upon a foundation of mutual trust, cultural affinity and shared aspirations," said Fadillah Yusof, Malaysia's deputy prime minister while addressing the event.

Malaysian experts said Xi's visit serves as a good opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of common interests and concerns, and seek to expand cooperation in fields including technology and trade.

"The entire nation is awaiting the arrival of President Xi Jinping. It is a very timely visit from the perspective of Malaysians. When we talk about a shared future, we have a lot of things in common. We have the shared interests as well as the common challenges that we need to grapple with together," said Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific.

"President Xi's visit to Malaysia, in that regard, sets the tone for diplomatic and economic strengthening and cooperation, and we can see further collaboration emerging in not just the semiconductor space, but also trade agreements like RCEP, the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as areas of artificial intelligence," said Danial Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.

"I think President Xi's visit to Malaysia acquires even higher level of significance as those countries, for example, Malaysia and China, which would like to continue to embrace free trade, would perhaps like to see even closer economic interactions among themselves," said Oh Ei Sun, principal advisor of the Pacific Research Center.

Malaysian experts share expectations on Chinese President Xi's upcoming state visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."

Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.

Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.

"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.

The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.

Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM