Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Embarks on Crucial Visit to China
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, commenced a vital working visit to China on a sunny Sunday morning, August 31. This visit was aimed at further deepening the bilateral ties between Malaysia and the East Asian giant. The four-day diplomatic mission came at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, panning from August 31 to September 3.
The primary event on Anwar’s itinerary during this visit was to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. Apart from this, he was also slated to attend the Commemoration Ceremony of the historic 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as well as the World Anti-Fascist War.
The hub of activities for Anwar during this extended visit spanned across multiple cities in China. The most prominent among these was the Victory Day military parade, which was held in Beijing on September 3. The last day of his visit coincidentally marked the conclusion of this much-anticipated parade.
Though Anwar had been to China on several occasions in the past, this significant event was made more momentous as it aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two countries. This was particularly strategic considering its timing, which followed the Merdeka celebrations and coincided with China’s National Day celebrations.
The visit served as a testament to Malaysia’s dedication towards enriching its links with its most influential trading associate. The significance of this diplomatic overture was further underscored by its attendees. The Prime Minister was accompanied by his spouse, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, among other ministerial delegates.
On the second day (September 1) of his visit, the Premier was scheduled to grace the SCO Summit, a privilege that served as a testament to Malaysia’s stature as a regional pacemaker in advocating cooperation and promoting global stability. Anwar’s attendance marked a historic first, as he was the first Malaysian leader to be invited to this prestigious conference.
Through its involvement, Malaysia intends to demonstrate commitment towards enhancing ASEAN-SCO relations. This is in line with Malaysia’s role as an intermediary between member states of both ASEAN and SCO. One area of exploration under consideration includes evaluating opportunities for cooperation in economic and trade sectors.
It’s important to note that despite this engagement, Malaysia is neither an observer state nor a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Malaysia’s participation, indeed, is a testament to its commitment to waylaying international cooperation and stability.
In Beijing, Anwar had an array of engagements. The Premier was set to engage in dialogue on bilateral cooperation and discuss regional and international issues that hold mutual interest for both nations. Such diplomatic exchanges are intrinsic to the strengthening of bilateral ties.
Parallel to the SCO Summit, the Prime Minister intended to engage with the business fraternities of Malaysia and China. These discussions aimed to explore avenues of collaboration that would potentially contribute towards boosting the robust economic relationship between both nations.
Emphasizing the significance of this ties, China has been Malaysia’s largest trade collaborator for an unbroken stretch of 16 years, starting from 2009. This prolific status reaffirms the special economic relationship shared by these two countries.
The quantum of total trade exchange between the two nations was quantified at RM484.12 billion in last reported year 2024. This trade value was tantamount to 16.8% of Malaysia’s entire global commerce, which stood at a staggering RM2.879 trillion.