Malaysian experts expressed that Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded state visit to the country will boost bilateral ties and China-ASEAN cooperation.
Xi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a state visit at the invitation of King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
In a signed article published in Malaysian media before his arrival, Xi said China fully supports Malaysia in fulfilling its duties as the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2025. He looks forward to seeing Malaysia as a better bridge in coordinating relations between China and ASEAN.
He added that China is willing to work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to follow the historical trend of peace and development, resist geopolitical competition and bloc confrontation, and overcome unilateralism and protectionism.
During his meeting with the King and talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday, Xi reiterated China's support for Malaysia as the chair of ASEAN and urged joint efforts to resist decoupling, supply chain disruptions, "small yard with high fences" and arbitrary imposition of tariffs with openness, inclusiveness, unity, and cooperation.
"As the [ASEAN] chair, it's really an honor for us to have President Xi come to visit us, and we can carry the message for the rest of ASEAN. But the key moving forward is that we need to talk more and we need to work together more," Wong Chen, a member of the Parliament of Malaysia, told China Global Television Network.
Chee Meng Tan, an Assistant Professor of Business Economics at University of Nottingham Malaysia, said closer China-ASEAN cooperation will help countries in the region mitigate the risks caused by tariffs imposed by the United States.
"Even though Trump has said that he's putting a 90-day halt on tariffs on 60 countries in the world, that doesn't mean that the tariffs are gone. The tariffs could still be there. So I think ASEAN needs to mitigate this risk by talking very closely to China," he said.
Malaysia is the second leg of Xi's current five-day, three-nation Southeast Asia tour. He wrapped up a state visit to Vietnam from Monday to Tuesday and started a state visit to Cambodia on Thursday.
Xi's Malaysia visit boosts bilateral ties, China-ASEAN cooperation: experts
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
