On April 28, 2011, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib jointly attended China-Malaysia Economic, Trade & Investment Cooperation Forum in Kuala Lumpur and addressed the forum.
Wen said in his speech that China and Malaysia are close neighbors across the sea and the two peoples enjoy a long history of traditional friendship. The bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation has developed and expanded rapidly in recent years. Practices show that China and Malaysia are sincere friends enjoying mutual trust and support and reliable partners based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. As China-Malaysia relations continue to move forward, the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries will grow deeper, they will develop greater common interest and demands and people of the two countries will get more benefits.
He noted that the two countries just signed the key documents on broadening and deepening the economic and trade cooperation and established the principles, direction and framework of the bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation under new circumstances. He hopes the two sides to join hands and make full use of the preferential policies of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, complement each other with advantages, further expand the size of bilateral trade, optimize the trade structure, strengthen mutual investment, enhance cooperation on infrastructure construction of road, bridge, port, power station and telecom, expand cooperation in the fields of finance, education, science and technology and promote the friendly exchanges between youth of both countries.
He pointed out that China just formulated its “12th five-year” plan in which it clearly indicates the commitment to opening up and implementing a more proactive opening strategy. It will bring more business opportunities to enterprises all over the world, including Malaysia. China’s development represents opportunities to Malaysia, its neighboring countries and the world at large. It poses neither challenge nor threat. He believes that with the relentless efforts of both sides China-Malaysia traditional friendship will grow deeper, the mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields will achieve greater results and the bilateral relations will embrace a brighter future.
Najib said that China is a friend and partner Malaysia trusts, respects and cooperates with. Malaysia always takes China’s development as opportunities instead of challenges and is committed firmly to strengthening friendly cooperation with China. Premier Wen’s visit to Malaysia has achieved fruitful results, which will boost the bilateral cooperation in all aspects and effectively promote Malaysia’s economic and social progress. On the basis of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Malaysia will make full use of the bilateral cooperation mechanisms and the favorable conditions created by the completion of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, deepen the bilateral cooperation, complement China with relative advantages and benefit the two countries and their people.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, the forum was attended by 700 senior government officials and businessmen from China and Malaysia.