Wen: Bilateral relations based on mutual trust

Wednesday April 27, 2011

By CHOW HOW BAN

hbchow@thestar.com.my

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has cited mutual trust as the most important element in developing his country's solid ties with Malaysia.

He said China could never forget the significant events that helped shape bilateral ties since diplomatic relations were established in 1974.

“The first, when China was at its most difficult moment, Malaysia was the first Asean country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

“The second was when Malaysia proposed to Asean 20 years ago to engage in dialogue with China,” he said.

“As an ancient Chinese proverb goes, Do not forget what favours others have done for you'.

“We have never forgotten these historical episodes between our countries.

“Mutual trust forms the bedrock of our bilateral relations and I believe Malaysia-China relations will enjoy a very bright future,'' he said in a special interview with The Star and Bernama at the headquarters of the Chinese Cabinet here on Monday. It was conducted ahead of his two-day official visit to Malaysia beginning today.

Wen will hold talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya tomorrow after an official welcoming ceremony at Dataran Perdana.

He will be accompanied by a 118-member delegation comprising four ministers, senior government officials, businessmen and the media.

Najib and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will host an official luncheon in honour of Wen and his entourage at Seri Perdana.

Both leaders are also scheduled to address the Malaysia-China Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) later in the afternoon.

Wen said both countries should enhance business co-operation although Malaysia was already China's biggest trading partner in Asean with US$74.2bil (RM222.6bil) in two-way trade last year.

“What we need to do now is sustain the momentum of balanced, co-ordinated and sustainable growth of our trade. At the same time, we should increase the science and technological contents of our traded goods,'' he added.

Wen also noted that there had been a lot of publicity over an agreement on mutual recognition of academic degrees, describing the development as important “for it will enhance friendship and deepen co-operation between both countries”.

He said during his visit, the Chinese side would put forward specific proposals for better mutual reinforcement of financial and business co-operation.

On possible negative consequences to some smaller companies following the establishment of the China-Asean Free Trade Area (Cafta) last year, Wen explained that all participating countries had benefited from Cafta as trade between them had grown tremendously.

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