Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Email:drmehboob.thenewslark@gmail.com
China has its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, , and Consulate General offices in George Town, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. Malaysia maintains its embassy in Beijing, as well as consulate offices in Kunming, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xian, and Hong Kong. The two countries are also bound by the historical presence of the Chinese People in Malaysia, which is currently the second largest Chinese diaspora around the world.
Kunlun or Malay sailors were known in China by the third century BC, and there is evidence that they had begun to settle along the East African coast by the first century CE. By the time of the Roman Empire, there were permanent communities of Malayo-Polynesian-speaking people on the coast of Madagascar, where they remain to this day.
Chinese records from the fifth and sixth centuries AD note that products were shipped in Kunlun vessels, apparently referring to maritime Southeast Asia vessels. By the seventh century, the term Kunlunreferred specifically to coastal people of the Malay region. By the ninth century, in Yiqiejing yingyi (815), Hui-Lin notes that Kunlunbo (Malay ship) were arriving regularly at the Gulf of Tonkin and along the south eastern Chinese coast. As religion was quite a thing in China, Kunlun was needed to refer specifically to coastal people of the Malay region, as trade grew between both countries, stuff started happening.
The Sultanate of Malacca voluntarily established political and economic ties with the Ming Dynasty of China, which protected Malacca against its enemies with military force, allowing the Muslim Sultanate to prosper. The Ming dynasty had played a role in Malacca’s external affairs with Siam and the Malays from conquering Malacca. At the foundation of Malacca, the native peoples were influencedby Hinduism and Buddhism influence. According to the annals record, at the time Parameswara founded Malacca, the country had been attacked a few times by the empire of Majapahit and the rivals from the northern area of Malacca, the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Being a strategist at that time, the ruler of Malacca decided to send his ambassadors to visit the Emperor of China, one of the superpowers of the period, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and both agreed to become allies. Ever since the agreement between the Malacca Empire and the Ming Empire, the Ayutthaya Kingdom and the Majapahit Empire never intended to attack Malacca. Later, some records suggested that during the trade activities and arrival of the Chinese-Muslim admiral Zheng He, Islam had already rooted in the Malay people at that time. Parameswara himself had converted to Islam earlier and adopted an Islamic name, Sultan Iskandar Shah. The new religion spread quickly throughout his conversion, and due to the busy trading and cultural exchanges with Arabs and Indians, who were themselves Muslim.
Diplomatic relations were established on 31 May 1974 between the People’s Republic of China and Malaysia.
Following the end of the Cold War, diplomatic foreign relations between China and Malaysia immediately and positively changed. That being said, political and cultural connections between the two nations began to strengthen. Both countries are full members of APEC, and there is a sizeable population of Chinese in Malaysia.
The long-standing trade relationship between China and Malaysia also dates back to the early 80s, where the now I-Berhad’s Chairman, Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, successfully ventured into the Chinese market with his Dreamland spring mattress. The trade agreement was signed in November 1984 in Shanghai, witnessed by the then Deputy Trade Minister, Y.B. Dato’ Oo Gin Sun. From there, Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong established over 14 factories all over China and also ventured into the power plant business.
China subsequently emerged as the major investor in Malaysia, funding large infrastructure projects nationwide with a huge investment, with the country the platform for Chinesefirms to enter ASEAN markets. There is also a Malaysia-China Business Council.In 2009, Malaysia and China signed five agreements to expand their cooperation in trade and investment, particularly focused on the financial services sector.In November 2016, Malaysia and China signed US$30 million worth of deals on energy and transportation infrastructure issues.
Malaysia has several Chinese Belt and Road Initiative projects under construction, including the East Coast Rail Line, Kuantan Port Expansion, Green Technology Park in Pahang, Forest City, Robotic Future City, and Samalaju Industrial Park Steel Complex.
On 26 November 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced visa-free free for Chinese citizens. On 1 December 2023, spokesperson Mao Ning for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced visa-free for Malaysian citizens and a stay of less than 15 days.
In June 2024, China and Malaysia renewed their five-year economic and trade cooperation agreement during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia. At the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, paid a State Visit to Malaysia from 15 to 17 April 2025. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Sultan Ibrahim, held talks with H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and reached a broad consensus. Both sides agreed to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future to accelerate their modernization efforts and jointly promote regional and global prosperity and stability.Both leaders agreed that the two countries have been close neighbours for thousands of years, sincere partners for common development, true friends connected by hearts, and important forces for maintaining peace. Since the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations on 31 May 1974, the friendship has witnessed profound changes over the past half-century. the bilateral relations have been continuously strengthened and demonstrated renewed vigor and vitality, especially after entering the new era. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia in 2013, the bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results and indeed delivered tangible benefits to their peoples. In 2023, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reached an important consensus on jointly building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, marking a historic milestone that guides the development of bilateral relations, further expands strategic cooperation, and opens a new chapter in China-Malaysia relations.
The two countries highly commended the success of a series of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship. Both sides stressed that China-Malaysia relations have made significant progress, driven by the strategic guidance of their leaders and rooted in the deep and traditional friendship between their peoples. The key elements of this relationship include their commitment to maintaining independent strategies, seeking common development, fostering sincerity and mutual trust, and uphold fairness and justice. The two countries developed a valuable friendship throughout their long history and are poised to enter a new chapter of cooperation in the new era. Both sides will maintain and develop their good practices and valuable experience, commit to shared values, advance comprehensive strategic cooperation to a higher level, strengthen mutual trust and solidarity, jointly pursue development that benefits both nations and the region, and embark on a brighter future for China-Malaysia relations.
Malaysia admired China’s historic achievements and reform in the new era, and acknowledged its significant contributions to preserving regional and global peace, stability, and sustainable development under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Malaysia appreciated China’s pursuit of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, and believed that further deepening the reform comprehensively and high-level opening up will bring new impetus and opportunities for bilateral cooperation and the development of countries and regions. China commends Malaysia’s remarkable economic and social achievements of Malaysia since its independence 68 years ago, supports the Malaysian government in advancing the governance concept of “Malaysia MADANI”, and looks forward to greater achievements in Malaysia’s nation building and development.
Both leaders agreed that China and Malaysia are important developing countries in Asia-Pacific, representatives of emerging economies and important participants of the Global South. The joint construction of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future is crucial to not only their peoples but also the future of this region, enhancing the unity and cooperation of the Global South.
Both leaders stressed that, in facing changes of the world, of our times and of history, by upholding mutual respect for each Party’s domestic laws, rules, regulations and policies, the two countries will commit to a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic coordination, deepen practical cooperation, follow the comprehensive blueprint for building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future. China and Malaysia will share opportunities, seek common development, address challenges, and preserve security together, bringing more contributions to upholding regional peace and stability, consolidating the regional cooperation framework, and improving the reform of global governance.
Both leaders agreed to maintain close high-level interaction and strengthen strategic communication and mutual trust to provide strategic guidance for the long-term and stable development of bilateral relations.
Both sides reiterated their firm mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns of each other. China reaffirmed its commitment to the Principle of Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit, and Inclusiveness in Neighborhood Diplomacy as well as its policy of building friendships and partnerships with neighboring countries.
The two sides firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and making efforts to promote national unity, stability, development, and prosperity. Malaysia reiterates its firm commitment to the One China Policy, as per the Joint Communique signed by the leaders of both countries on 31 May 1974. Consistent with the One China Policy, Malaysia recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, Taiwan is an inalienable territory of the People’s Republic of China, and for China to achieve national reunification, will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan.Both sides agreed to establish the Joint Foreign and Defense Dialogue Mechanism to further expand channels for high-level strategic communication and platforms for political security cooperation.Both sides will further strengthen exchanges of experience on governance, promote interactions among central and local governments, legislatures, and political parties, and explore building dialogue and exchange mechanisms· among ruling parties to enhance policy communication to further consolidate the political foundation for bilateral relations. ( To be continued)
