Update | China expects ‘next level’ relations with Malaysia as Mahathir enlists Robert Kuok in diplomatic push
Mahathir meets Chinese ambassador Bai Tian in Kuala Lumpur following a memo telling top diplomats to stay the course on friendly relations with Beijing
Chinese diplomats have said they believe relations with the new government in Malaysia “will enter the next level” under Mahathir Mohamad following a flurry of activity that revealed the clearest signal yet on the newly elected prime minister’s policy towards Beijing.
In an internal memo to foreign affairs staff, dated May 14 and obtained by This Week in Asia, Mahathir told foreign ministry secretary general Ramlan Ibrahim that “our strong ties with China … will continue to flourish”.
Back-to-back diplomatic moves this week appeared to add weight to the statement. Mahathir met with China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Bai Tian, on Thursday, a day after the prime minister dispatched his key adviser Robert Kuok to the Chinese embassy to discuss continued cooperation between the two countries.
“As a long-time friend of Malaysia as well as its key strategic partner, the Chinese government is keen to work hand in hand with the new Malaysian government and continue our collaboration following the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit,” according to a statement released by the embassy after its meeting with Mahathir. “[We] believe Sino-Malaysia relations will enter the next level under Mahathir’s leadership.”
The embassy also praised Mahathir’s support for the “Belt and Road Initiative”, President Xi Jinping’s ambitious infrastructure project designed to revive the ancient trading routes stretching from Asia to Europe and Africa. Malaysia has long been viewed as an important stop along the routes.
In a separate statement, the Chinese embassy said that Bai and Kuok discussed continued cooperation between the two countries.
“Both agreed that China-Malaysia friendly cooperation is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples,” the embassy said on its website. “As an important country along the 21st century maritime Silk Road under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Malaysia could further benefit from mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with China.”