Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday made a pitch for China to reinvigorate its Belt and Road Initiative, as he urged for collaboration among countries.
“Translating lofty ideals into practical reality, solidarity and cooperation is best exemplified in the realization of the Belt and Road Initiative,” Anwar told the Boao Forum for Asia. “With the pandemic behind us, we should try to regain its momentum.”
Anwar’s call for a revival of China’s infrastructure collaboration with developing nations marks Malaysia’s efforts to re-engage with the world’s second-biggest economy, which emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic late last year.
Photo: Bloomberg
Anwar said countries must guard against competition in the technology and semiconductor industries from raising costs and obstructing progress, as nations seek to protect their intellectual property rights and stay ahead of rivals.
“Let me reiterate that unfettered competition must give way to spirited collaboration,” he said.
Anwar is on a state visit to China through tomorrow, during which he is to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) as part of efforts to reinvigorate relations in the post-pandemic era, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009. Total trade between the two nations was 487.13 billion ringgit (US$110.2 billion) last year.
China was also the top investor in Malaysia last year, contributing 21 percent of the US$59 billion investments the nation approved.
Anwar’s visit to China is the first by a Malaysian leader since then-Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s trip in April 2019.
Anwar has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia since becoming prime minister, seeking to boost economic ties and his standing among Malaysians after years of political instability.
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