Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, recently returned from a successful state visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The King praised China’s rise on the international stage over the past two decades and expressed admiration for the examples it sets in rebuilding after challenging times. The visit marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, with the King emphasizing the importance of strengthening cooperation for a better future.
During his visit, Sultan Ibrahim discussed various topics with Chinese leaders, including education, trade, investment, and transport. He highlighted the strong relationship between Malaysia and China based on trust and respect, urging the government to consider the outcomes of the visit and implement appropriate measures. The King also commended China’s stance on the conflict in Gaza and expressed solidarity with China on the issue of peace in Palestine. Additionally, he pledged to work with China to maintain peace in the South China Sea, where overlapping claims pose challenges for regional stability.
President Xi Jinping expressed a desire to enhance connectivity with Malaysia under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a China-led infrastructure development plan that aims to create new trade routes and deepen cooperation with partner countries. Projects discussed during the meeting included the construction of a railway along Malaysia’s eastern coast and joint-venture industrial parks in Qinzhou and Kuantan. President Xi also pledged to cooperate on agriculture, poverty reduction, new energy, and the digital economy, as well as in higher education and scientific research.
During a meeting with President Xi, Sultan Ibrahim became emotional when recalling the assistance China provided for his late son’s liver transplant in 2014. Tengku Abdul Jalil Iskandar Ibrahim received treatment at Guangdong’s First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, but tragically passed away from liver cancer in 2015. The King’s emotional exchange with President Xi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was reported to have moved both officials. Sultan Ibrahim also met with the Malaysian diaspora in Beijing, accompanied by his son and Malaysia’s Transport Minister.
The visit by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar marks a significant moment in Malaysia-China relations, following in the footsteps of the late King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s visit in 2014. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China in 1974 has paved the way for enhanced cooperation and collaboration in various sectors. The recent visit underscores the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two countries and working together towards mutual prosperity and peace in the region and beyond.
