Bright future ahead for China-Malaysia unity, which has fine history

China and Malaysia commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 31. China-Malaysia interactions can be traced back more than 2,000 years to when a Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) emissary arrived on the Malay Peninsula, through to the five voyages to Malacca by admiral Zheng He (1371-1433) and finally to the historic relations established on May 31, 1974.

As the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with China, Malaysia has seen deepening exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, culture, education and technology over the past 50 years. Both countries have consistently worked together, achieving mutual benefits and remarkable results.

Political trust

Despite the challenging international political landscape and unprecedented global challenges, China and Malaysia have steadfastly adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, continually strengthening their political trust. Frequent and warm interactions among the leaders of the two countries have solidified a brotherly friendship, with mutual support on the international political stage. In 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited China twice, reaching important agreements on building a Chinese-Malaysian community with a shared future and charting a new course for future bilateral relations.

Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, the past year has seen extensive exchanges at all levels, fostering partnerships, business opportunities and cooperation, driving the Chinese-Malaysian community with a shared future more concretely.

Mutual benefit

The shared vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind aligns with the "Prosperous Malaysia" concept, guiding pragmatic cooperation across various fields. Malaysia was one of the earliest countries to respond to the Belt and Road Initiative, and China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. The East Coast Rail Link in Malaysia, one of the largest BRI flagship projects under construction, will extend Malaysia's railway by one-third upon completion, creating a "land bridge" between the east and west coasts, helping to establish industrial and logistical connections between the two countries and Southeast Asia.

The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has signed 13 projects with a total investment of more than 46 billion yuan ($6.33 billion), generating an industrial output of 60 billion yuan and creating about 20,000 jobs, becoming a hallmark of the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" initiative.

Emerging sectors including the digital economy and green development have injected new momentum into bilateral cooperation. Companies such as Geely, BYD, Chery and Great Wall Motors are expanding into Malaysia, and the GDS data center in Johor has begun operations. Huawei, ZTE, Alibaba and other enterprises are increasing their presence, helping Malaysia become a digital economy hub in Southeast Asia.

Deepening bonds

The bond between the nations lies in the closeness of their peoples. In November 2023, the Islam-Confucianism Leadership Dialogue was held in Malaysia, setting an example for global cultural exchanges and progress.

In the same month, China and Malaysia implemented visa-free entry policies for each other's residents, making Malaysia one of the top destinations for Chinese tourists. Currently, about 250,000 Chinese tourists visit Malaysia every month and Malaysians can also enjoy visa-free travel to China.

Both countries are committed to deep cooperation in education, hosting events such as the China higher education exhibition and the China-Malaysia vocational education exhibition, assisting academic exchanges and exploring joint education programs and faculty training.

By the end of 2023, more than 40,000 Chinese students were studying in Malaysia and more than 10,000 Malaysian students were studying in China, serving as bridges of cultural exchanges and friendship ambassadors.

The China-Malaysia friendship has a long and rich history, with cooperation in various fields over the past 50 years. We must continue to inherit and carry forward the valuable historical legacy and friendship left by our predecessors, standing at this new historical starting point.

Together, we will push for new developments in China-Malaysia relations in the new era, sailing toward a prosperous future along the path of mutual consultation, joint construction and shared benefits, creating an even brighter future for the China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

The author is the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia.