UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Monday with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman here in New York on promoting deeper bilateral cooperation.

"China and Malaysia successfully celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year. The leaders of the two countries have maintained close contacts and mapping out the blueprint for the development of bilateral ties," Wang said.

He expressed the hope that the two counties will continue to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen pragmatic cooperation with a focus on the construction of China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, and promote cooperation in defense, security enforcement as well as cultural and educational exchanges.

China firmly supports the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community and the leading role of ASEAN in regional cooperation, Wang noted. He hoped that Malaysia, as rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year, will play an active role in safeguarding and boosting sound China-ASEAN ties.

Anifah said Malaysia attaches great importance to its ties with China and has regarded China as its most important partner for strategic cooperation. According to him, last year's celebration of bilateral ties has brought Malaysia-China relations to a new level.

Malaysia expects the two countries to maintain the momentum of high-level visits, increase mutual trust while expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields, said the foreign minister.

Malaysia supports and will actively participate in the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposed by China, Anifah said, adding that Malaysia would actively promote the pragmatic cooperation between ASEAN and China, safeguarding the good momentum in ASEAN-China relations.