Xi praises Malaysia for Belt and Road cooperation; deals signed

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that Malaysia was an early supporter of the Belt and Road Initiative and has become one of the countries that benefited the most from it.

Xi told visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on the eve of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will continue to increase bilateral cooperation under the initiative.

Najib said the Belt and Road is a historic initiative that will bring huge changes to the region and the world at large, adding that Malaysia will actively participate in it.

Xi said the China-Malaysia relationship is currently at its best ever and the two sides will continue cooperation in the areas of culture, counter-terrorism, education, industrial parks, law enforcement, rail projects, security and tourism.

China will advance the comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia to further improve bilateral ties, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Najib Saturday. The two witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral agreements on alignment of development strategies, cooperation on inspection and quarantine, infrastructure and others.

Li said he appreciates Malaysia's active response to the Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing will continue to support China-Malaysia industrial parks in China's Qinzhou and Malaysia's Kuantan, and expand cooperation on infrastructure. The two will continue to work together on security issues, he said.

Najib said Malaysia aims to cooperate with China in e-commerce and tourism, while continuing joint efforts on building railways and industrial parks. Malaysia will also promote relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.