Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Email:drmehboob.thenewslark@gmail.com
Chinese President Xi Jinping paid an official visit to Malaysia from 15 to 17 April 2025, beginning a new era of relations between the two countries. This visit was on the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. The Cabinet ministers and senior government officials accompanied President Xi.
Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations on 31 May 1947. Both countries, having marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, enjoy strong bilateral ties. This visit was part of the first tour of state visit by President Xi in 2025. President Xi Jinping’s last state visit to Malaysia was in 2013, during which both countries elevated diplomatic relations to a comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
On his arrival in Malaysia, President Xi was warmly welcomed by the Malaysian government and people. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim graciously hosted a state banquet in honour of President Xi and his delegation. President Xi also held a very important meeting with Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both leaders later witnessed the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Notes between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also hosted an official dinner at Seri Perdana Complex in honour of President Xi Jinping.
As Chair of ASEAN and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia remains committed to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China through dialogue, mutual trust, and initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China. For sixteen years since 2009, the People’s Republic of China has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner. Total trade between the two countries is valued at RM484.12 billion in 2024, representing 16.8 percent of Malaysia’s total global trade (RM2.879 trillion).
Sultan Ibrahim welcomed Xi in a colorful ceremony at the golden-domed Istana Negara palace before he met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the administrative capital of Putrajaya. Xi touted a “new golden era” of Chinese-Malaysian relations, following the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year. The king announced new cooperation between the countries in various fields, including artificial intelligence. Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected a guard of honour during the official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Analysts give much importance to this visit, which took place during the unprecedented trade war that developed with the United States after Trump announced tariffs imposed on both its allies and competitors. This visit took place during this unprecedented trade war that is developing with the United States, with both Malaysia and China finding themselves in the middle. The visit offered a chance to test the waters for regional solidarity amid the US trade disruptions. Malaysia is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) bloc, whose members are among the hardest hit by new US Tariffs. Trump imposed 46% tariffs on Vietnam, and Cambodia, as a significant producer of low-cost clothing for big Western brands, was hit with a 49 percent duty. Trump’s tariffs sent a wake-up call for many countries of the world, and ASEAN countries want a deepen ties with their biggest trading partner, “CHINA”. In Asia Pacific, countries that usually align with the US economic model are increasingly turning towards China.
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When President Xi arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport by special plane, Xi Jinping was warmly greeted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, accompanying minister and Minister of Transport Loke Siew Fook and other senior officials. Malaysian children presented flowers to Xi Jinping, while Malaysian teenagers performed dances rich in local traditions, waving the national flags of both China and Malaysia to warmly welcome Xi Jinping’s visit. Xi Jinping delivered a written statement and, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Malaysian government and the Malaysian people. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Malaysia are friendly neighbors facing each other across the sea, with a traditional friendship spanning over a thousand years. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, the two countries have adhered to mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation, setting a model for state-to-state relations. In 2023, the two sides reached an important consensus on building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future. Last year, the two countries grandly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As major developing countries and members of the Global South, deepening high-level strategic cooperation between China and Malaysia serves the common interests of both countries and is conducive to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large. Xi Jinping looked forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to further deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries, strengthen political mutual trust between both sides, promote cooperation in modernization endeavors, jointly enhance exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and continuously elevate the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future to new heights, ushering in a new “Golden 50 Years” for China-Malaysia relations.
Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing also greeted Xi Jinping at the airport. When Xi Jinping’s motorcade drove from the airport to the hotel, personnel of local Chinese-funded enterprises and overseas Chinese students waved the national flags of China and Malaysia on both sides of the road, and held high red banners reading “Warmly Welcome President Xi Jinping’s Visit to Malaysia” and “Long Live China-Malaysia Friendship”. Overseas Chinese performed lively and festive lion dances to welcome Xi Jinping’s visit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first visit to Malaysia in over a decade on 17th April 2025 with a flurry of trade and investment pledges – including support for Chinese-made aircraft sales and semiconductor cooperation – as Beijing seeks to position itself as Southeast Asia’s most dependable partner amid Washington’s intensifying trade war. After Trump’s Tariff war, China became the defender of global trade, and the future of the world’s trade much depends on China. A surge in demand for Malaysian real estate from wealthy Chinese families drawn to the country’s international schools and universities may gain further momentum with this week’s visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. With a sizeable Chinese community, Mandarin-friendly programmes, and a multicultural environment, Malaysia offers a sense of continuity and comfort for students from China.
Xi called on the two sides to promote cooperation in modernization endeavors, jointly enhance exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and continuously elevate the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future to new heights. He expressed hope that, with the joint efforts of China and Malaysia, his visit will yield fruitful outcomes, opening a new historic chapter of good-neighborly friendship and mutual benefit between the two countries, and ushering in a new “Golden 50 Years” for bilateral relations.
Experts said Xi’s visit to Malaysia transcends bilateral ties, as strengthened China-Malaysia relations promise substantial benefits for both countries while also advance regional economic integration and multilateral collaboration. This assumes particular importance, especially in today’s intricate and volatile geopolitical landscape.
On 15th April 2025 morning, construction work was in full swing at the Gombak station of the East Coast Railway Project (ECRL) in Malaysia, which is a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative jointly built by China and Malaysia. With machines roaring constantly and a crane moving periodically, the bustling scene at the site offered a snapshot of the vitality of China-Malaysia bilateral cooperation. China-Malaysia partnership extends far beyond infrastructure. Pragmatic cooperation in manufacturing, digital economy, and semiconductor production also contributes significantly to the local economy, In his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year in Beijing, Xi encouraged Malaysia to bring more Malaysian quality and specialty products to the Chinese market, and urged closer cooperation in such new areas as digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy. China has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with the volume hitting an all-time high of $212.04 billion in 2024.
Beyond the bilateral scope, analysts believe that with Malaysia serving as the 2025 chair of ASEAN and a BRICS partner country, China and Malaysia are expected to work more closely on regional cooperation, with an eye on stability and against the backdrop of the US tariffs and protectionism, China continues its enduring commitment to fostering regional integration and multilateral cooperation, demonstrating its readiness to collaborate closely with neighboring countries to safeguard a multilateral trading system.
( To be continued)
