China, Malaysia sign 14 agreements as Premier Li Qiang meets Malaysia counterpart

By Anadolu staff

China and Malaysia on Wednesday signed 14 memoranda of understandings, agreements, and protocols to enhance cooperation in different sectors, including trade and economy, state-run media reported.

The signing ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to Bernama news agency.

Premier Li arrived on his three-day visit to Malaysia on Tuesday from Australia. This is Li's first visit as premier to Kuala Lumpur.

The MOUs and agreements include investment in the digital economy and cooperation in green development. The two countries also signed the second cycle of the Malaysia-China fiver-year program for economic and trade cooperation to deepen further linkages between industries in priority sectors like high-level manufacturing and digital economy.

Under the five-year program, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur would also deepen cooperation in robotics, entrepreneur development, innovation and startup, as well as research and development in agriculture and primary industries, according to the agency.

The two countries also signed cooperation agreements in communication, media, postal services, food security, and other fields.

Earlier, the two leaders had a closed-door meeting to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues.

During his stay in Kuala Lumpur, Li will also meet with Malaysia King Sultan Ibrahim, and attend the East Coast Rail Link groundbreaking ceremony in Gombak along with Prime Minister Ibrahim.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years since 2009. Last year, the total trade with China was valued at RM450.84 billion ($98.80 billion), contributing to 17.1% of Malaysia's global trade, according to Bernama.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid