OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 29 MARCH – 1 APRIL 2023
OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 29 MARCH – 1 APRIL 2023
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from 29 March to 1 April 2023. This will be YAB Prime Minister’s inaugural visit to the PRC after being sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
YAB Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir; Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Minister of Transport, YB Tuan Anthony Loke Siew Fook; Minister of Local Government Development, YB Tuan Nga Kor Ming; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang; Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, YB Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing and senior government officials.
During the visit, YAB Prime Minister will first meet His Excellency President Xi Jinping, who was recently been reappointed as the President of the PRC for the third term. Both leaders will discuss the strategic elements of bilateral relations. This includes charting the course for reinvigorated relations in the post-pandemic era taking into a more challenging international environment. In addition, Chairman of the National People’s Congress, His Excellency Zhao Leji will pay a courtesy call on YAB Prime Minister. Discussions are likely to focus on the role of parliamentarians in the strengthening of ties.
YAB Prime Minister will hold a meeting with his counterpart, Premier of the State Council of the PRC, His Excellency Li Qiang. The meeting will provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss various areas of bilateral and pragmatic cooperation including trade and investment, high technology, digital economy, higher education, post-pandemic recovery and food security. Both leaders will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
YAB Prime Minister and His Excellency Premier Li Qiang will witness the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding between Malaysia and the PRC in the areas of agriculture and trade. Apart from that, YAB Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a lecture at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
In Hainan, YAB Prime Minister will attend the Boao Forum Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2023 and deliver a speech at the Opening Plenary on the theme "An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges”. YAB Prime Minister will also host engagement sessions with the Malaysian diaspora and business community in Beijing and Hainan.
This visit is historic as it is the first time that YAB Prime Minister, as the leader of the Unity Government will be visiting China. Indeed, YAB Prime Minister will be one of the first leaders to meet President Xi Jinping after his reappointment as President and Premier Li Qiang after his appointment. In concrete terms, the visit is expected to fortify economic relations, which will surely result in greater trade and investment flows.
The visit of YAB Prime Minister to the PRC is also to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Malaysia and the PRC. This significant milestone is a testament to the strong and enduring ties between the two countries, founded on mutual respect, trust, and common interest.
Since 2009, the PRC has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner. In 2022, the total trade between Malaysia and the PRC was valued at RM487.13 billion (USD110.62 billion), an increase of 15.6 percent from 2021.
PUTRAJAYA
29 March 2023